„setzte sich aktiv für die Interessen der Kollegen ein“
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)
“...actively championed the interests of his colleagues...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
He acted as a troublemaker in the company and sought confrontation with management, equating to grade 3.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
Hidden rating
Weak / Deficient (grade 3.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 3.0)
What it means in detail
This wording goes beyond mere team spirit and signals active, confrontational opposition to company decisions or management policies under Swiss reference coding.
How to fix it
It is recommended to 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 3.0)
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
- trat engagiert für die Interessen der Kollegen einWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- war stets um ein gutes Verhältnis zu den Kollegen besorgtWeak / Unsatisfactory (grade 3.0)3.0
- wegen seiner geselligen Art bei Kollegen geschätztWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen und VorgesetztenInsufficient3.5
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „setzte sich aktiv für die Interessen der Kollegen ein“