„Das Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen war korrekt“
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)
“...The behaviour towards colleagues was correct...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Behaviour towards superiors was deficient or marked by conflict, as this hierarchical level was deliberately omitted (grade 4.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Sufficient (grade 4.0)
German rating: Genügend (Note 4.0)
What it means in detail
Standard Swiss reference convention requires listing behaviour towards superiors first, followed by colleagues and clients. Omitting superiors entirely is a classic technique known as eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), signaling to future employers that there were serious interpersonal issues with management.
How to fix it
It is recommended to lodge a written objection with the employer and request replacing the formulation with a clearly positive performance clause such as "erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Es wird empfohlen, beim Arbeitgeber schriftlich Einsprache zu erheben und die Ersetzung der Formulierung durch eine klar positive Leistungsklausel (z.B. „erledigte die Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit“) zu verlangen.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 4.0)
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
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „Das Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen war korrekt“