„[Auslassung]: Keine Erwähnung des Verhaltens gegenüber den Teamkollegen (nur Patienten und Vorgesetzte)“
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]: No mention of behavior towards team colleagues (only patients and superiors)”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting peer conduct is read as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), indicating conflict or poor teamwork with colleagues.
Hidden rating
Insufficient (grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO; BGE 129 III 177), a full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must cover all standard relational dimensions (superiors, peers, external parties). Leaving out colleagues while mentioning patients and superiors signals clear friction within the team (Administrative Court ZH VB.2019.00365). This corresponds to a grade of approximately 3.5 on the Swiss scale.
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing passage be added, as eloquent silence constitutes a hidden devaluation.
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 Kunden und TeamkollegenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber den PatientenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber PatientenInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber TeamkollegenInsufficient (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]: Keine Erwähnung des Verhaltens gegenüber den Teamkollegen (nur Patienten und Vorgesetzte)“