„eine gluecklichere Hand bei seinen weiteren Schritten“
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)
“...a luckier hand in his future steps...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This implies that the employee's previous actions were unfortunate, damaging, or illegal, corresponding to a grade 2 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
Hidden rating
Weak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 2.0)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO), the principle of goodwill obliges employers to write benevolent references, which often leads to coded negative language. Wishing an employee a "luckier hand" suggests that their past performance was disastrous or even harmful. In Swiss HR practice, this represents a severe devaluation.
How to fix it
The employee should lodge a written objection with the employer and request that the phrase be replaced 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 2.0)
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 freeClosing statement: a signal, not a legal right
BVGer A-364/2022 vom 17. August 2023, E. 7.3
A missing or curt closing statement is often read as a negative signal in practice. Legally, however, there is no enforceable right to thanks, regret or good wishes – their use is at the employer’s discretion (likewise Federal Supreme Court 4C.36/2004 of 8 April 2004, E. 5). You can ask for an addition, but you cannot sue for it.
Read the full decision (German)„Nach der Rechtsprechung besteht kein durchsetzbarer Anspruch der angestellten Person auf bestimmte Dankesworte, Zukunftswünsche oder Bedauernsbekundungen über den Austritt.“
Unofficial translation: “According to case law, the employee has no enforceable right to particular words of thanks, good wishes for the future or expressions of regret about their departure.”
Related phrases
Decode your entire reference letter
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „eine gluecklichere Hand bei seinen weiteren Schritten“