„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Erwähnung des Verhaltens gegenüber Projektmitarbeitenden/Teammitgliedern (schwerwiegend für einen Projektleiter)“
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 mention of behaviour towards project staff/team members (serious for a project manager)”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting conduct towards team members for a project manager is interpreted as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), signalling severe team conflict (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
In Swiss reference practice, failing to comment on a project manager's interaction with team members indicates serious interpersonal shortcomings. Under art. 330a CO and court precedents (Administrative Court ZH VB.2019.00365), omitting mandatory conduct aspects leads readers to infer bad behavior. A proper full reference ('Vollzeugnis') requires clear statements on conduct toward all relevant parties (BGE 129 III 177).
How to fix it
The employee should request a written amendment to explicitly cover conduct toward project staff and team members.
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 Erwähnung des Verhaltens gegenüber KundenInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber Arbeitskollegen (Teammitgliedern)Insufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [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
Decode your entire reference letter
Upload your Arbeitszeugnis and get your overall Swiss grade, the number of issues found and a short legal assessment – explained in English.
Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Erwähnung des Verhaltens gegenüber Projektmitarbeitenden/Teammitgliedern (schwerwiegend für einen Projektleiter)“