„[Auslassung]: Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten fehlt“
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]: Conduct towards superiors is missing”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Leaving out this detail is read as an eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), implying the trait is lacking (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365); a full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must address performance and conduct (art. 330a CO; BGE 129 III 177).
Hidden rating
Insufficient (Grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO), the principle of goodwill applies, so employers often express shortcomings in coded language or through omissions. Omission of expected information leads readers to infer that the positive quality was absent (Verwaltungsgericht ZH VB.2019.00365). A full reference ('Vollzeugnis') must cover both performance and conduct (art. 330a CO; BGE 129 III 177).
How to fix it
The employee should request in writing that the missing passage be added, as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') 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]: Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten fehlt (Beredtes Schweigen)Insufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Verhalten gegenüber Kunden fehltInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten nachgestelltInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- [Auslassung]: Fehlende Beurteilung des Verhaltens gegenüber VorgesetztenInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „[Auslassung]: Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten fehlt“