„Verhalten gegenüber den Kunden war stets freundlich Auch im Kollegenkreis“
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)
“...behaviour towards clients was always friendly... Also among colleagues......”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The deliberate omission of superiors indicates authority issues or conflicts with management.
Hidden rating
Sufficient (grade 4.0)
German rating: Genügend (Note 4.0)
What it means in detail
Swiss HR readers closely check the order and inclusion of superiors, colleagues, and clients in conduct ratings. Omitting superiors entirely while praising customer and peer relations signals that the employee resisted authority or had manager conflicts. This corresponds to a grade of 4.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
How to fix it
The employee should formally request including superiors in the conduct evaluation to remove the negative code.
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
- Verhalten gegenüber Kunden war stets korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
- Das Verhalten von Frau Keller gegenüber Kollegen und Kunden war stets korrekt und freundlichSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Ihr Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden war stets korrektSufficient (grade 4.0)4.0
- Ihr Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden war stets einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „Verhalten gegenüber den Kunden war stets freundlich Auch im Kollegenkreis“