„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Arbeitskollegen (Teammitgliedern)“
What this German phrase in your Swiss Arbeitszeugnis (employment reference letter) really says about you – and which grade it hides.
Literal translation vs. real meaning
Literal translation (what DeepL tells you)
“[Omission]: Missing assessment of behavior towards colleagues (team members)”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting an assessment of behavior towards colleagues is read as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), implying interpersonal issues (grade 3.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Insufficient (grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss labor law (art. 330a CO), a full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must address both performance and behavior (BGE 129 III 177). Leaving out peer behavior indicates that the employee was difficult to work with in a team (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). This equates to an insufficient rating of grade 3.5.
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing passage be added, as eloquent silence constitutes a hidden negative rating.
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Der Arbeitnehmer sollte schriftlich die Ergänzung der fehlenden Zeugnispassage verlangen, da beredtes Schweigen eine versteckte Abwertung darstellt.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 3.5)
Under Art. 330a of the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), a reference letter must be true but benevolent. Coded downgrades rarely come alone – the same letter often contains further codes or omissions.
Check your whole certificate freeTelling silence & social conduct
Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365 vom 9. Mai 2020, E. 2.4
The Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich describes the practice of “telling silence” (beredtes Schweigen): if a quality that would normally be mentioned is left out, the reader concludes that it is missing. Leaving out one group of people when describing conduct (e.g. superiors) is generally read as a hint at negative behaviour.
Read the full decision (German)„Darunter gehört, wenn etwa bei der Verhaltensbeurteilung nur das Verhalten zu Mitarbeitern und Kunden erwähnt wird, nicht aber jenes zu Vorgesetzten.“
Unofficial translation: “This includes, for example, a conduct assessment that mentions behaviour towards co-workers and customers, but not towards superiors.”
Related phrases
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber den Arbeitskollegen / TeammitgliedernInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Kollegen/TeammitgliedernInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber den PatientenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber KollegenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Arbeitskollegen (Teammitgliedern)“