„[Auslassung]: Fehlende Zukunftswünsche (Klassischer Hinweis auf eine Trennung im schweren Streit trotz zuvor guter Leistungen)“
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 future wishes (classic indication of a separation in severe conflict despite previously good performance)”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting future wishes signals to Swiss HR that the employment ended in a bitter dispute despite adequate work performance (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
Leaving out closing wishes is a subtle way for Swiss employers to signal a bad parting under the principle of goodwill (art. 330a CO). However, Swiss court rulings establish that employees have no legal right to demand thanks or future wishes in a reference (BGer 4C.36/2004; BVGer A-364/2022). Consequently, while an employee can ask for these additions, they cannot enforce them legally.
How to fix it
The employee should formally request the inclusion of standard closing wishes, though this cannot be legally enforced.
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 Zukunftswünsche (Beredtes Schweigen am Ende deutet auf eine Trennung im schweren Konflikt hin)Insufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende ZukunftswünscheInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Erwähnung der Weiterentwicklung oder ZukunftswünscheInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Zukunftswünsche am Ende des ZeugnissesInsufficient (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 Zukunftswünsche (Klassischer Hinweis auf eine Trennung im schweren Streit trotz zuvor guter Leistungen)“