„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens und der Beziehung zu Kunden und Geschäftspartnern“
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 evaluation of conduct and relationship with customers and business partners”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting conduct toward clients is read as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), implying unsatisfactory customer relations (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
According to art. 330a CO and established case law (BGE 129 III 177), a full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must evaluate both overall performance and conduct. Omitting client relations when relevant triggers the principle of eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), leading recruiters to deduce bad behavior (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). This represents an insufficient rating equivalent to a grade 3.5.
How to fix it
The employee should demand in writing that the missing section be added, because eloquent silence creates a hidden negative mark.
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 KundenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Gästen (Kunden)Insufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Kollegen und KundenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Kunden/BesuchernInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens und der Beziehung zu Kunden und Geschäftspartnern“