„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Wünsche für den weiteren Erfolg“
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 wishes for continued success”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting future success wishes in the closing sentence is perceived by Swiss HR as a negative signal (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
While omitting good wishes signals dissatisfaction, employees have no legal right to demand expressions of thanks, regret, or future wishes under Swiss law (BGer 4C.36/2004; BVGer A-364/2022). Consequently, an employee can ask the employer to add such wishes goodwill-wise, but cannot enforce it in court under art. 330a CO.
How to fix it
The employee should request the addition of the missing closing wishes in writing, although there is no strict legal entitlement to demand them.
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 Wünsche für den weiteren KarrierewegInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Wünsche für die ZukunftInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Zukunftswünsche für den beruflichen ErfolgInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Wünsche für die berufliche und private ZukunftInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Fehlende Wünsche für den weiteren Erfolg“