„Verhalten gegenueber den Patienten und Kollegen war stets kollegial“
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 patients and colleagues was always collegial...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
Omitting superiors signals a conflict with management through eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') (grade 3.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Insufficient (Grade 3.5)
German rating: Ungenügend (Note 3.5)
What it means in detail
In a Swiss full reference ('Vollzeugnis'), standard practice requires rating behavior towards superiors, peers, and third parties. Leaving out superiors entirely is eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), alerting future employers to insubordination or conflicts. This corresponds to an unsatisfactory grade 3.5.
How to fix it
It is recommended to formally request a written correction from the employer, replacing this phrase with a clause that explicitly includes superiors.
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 3.5)
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 den Patienten und Kollegen war stets korrektSufficient (Grade 4.0)4.0
- Verhalten gegenüber den Kollegen war stets kameradschaftlichInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen war stets kameradschaftlichInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kollegen war kollegialGood (Grade 5.0)5.0
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 „Verhalten gegenueber den Patienten und Kollegen war stets kollegial“