„trat engagiert für die Interessen der Arbeitnehmer 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)
“...committedly advocated for the interests of the employees...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was a workplace troublemaker, sought conflict with management, or was inappropriately active in union matters (grade 2.0).
Hidden rating
Weak / Poor (grade 2.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 2.0)
What it means in detail
In Swiss reference practice, mentioning active advocacy for employee interests is code for someone who caused internal strife, opposed management, or disrupted company operations. Because employers must write benevolently under art. 330a CO, they use this phrasing to warn future hires about a contentious personality. Swiss HR views this as a major red flag regarding company loyalty and culture fit.
How to fix it
The employee should immediately contest this wording in writing, requesting its replacement with a standard performance phrase like "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 freeGoodwill vs. duty of truth
BGE 136 III 510, E. 4.1
The Federal Supreme Court describes the two poles of a Swiss reference letter: it should support your career and therefore be worded benevolently, but it must also give future employers a faithful picture – so it has to be true and complete.
Read the full decision (German)„Ein solches qualifiziertes Zeugnis bzw. Vollzeugnis soll einerseits das berufliche Fortkommen des Arbeitnehmers fördern und deshalb wohlwollend formuliert werden. Andererseits soll es künftigen Arbeitgebern ein möglichst getreues Abbild von Tätigkeit, Leistung und Verhalten des Arbeitnehmers geben, weshalb es grundsätzlich wahr und vollständig zu sein hat.“
Unofficial translation: “Such a qualified reference letter should, on the one hand, support the employee’s career and therefore be worded benevolently. On the other hand, it should give future employers as faithful a picture as possible of the employee’s activity, performance and conduct, which is why it must in principle be true and complete.”
Related phrases
- trat engagiert für die Interessen der Mitarbeiter einWeak / Poor (grade 2.0)2.0
- setzte sich engagiert fuer die Interessen der Arbeitnehmer einWeak / Deficient (Grade 3.0)3.0
- trat für die Interessen der Mitarbeiter stets engagiert einWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
- trat engagiert für die Belange seiner Mitarbeiter einWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
Decode your entire reference letter
Upload your Arbeitszeugnis and get your overall Swiss grade, the number of issues found and a short legal assessment – explained in English.
Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „trat engagiert für die Interessen der Arbeitnehmer ein“