„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und den behandelnden Ärzten war jederzeit einwandfrei“
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 superiors and treating physicians was impeccable at all times...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The deliberate omission of colleagues constitutes eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen'), indicating potential team conflicts or a lack of teamwork skills.
Hidden rating
Satisfactory (Grade 4.5)
German rating: Befriedigend (Note 4.5)
What it means in detail
While conduct towards superiors and doctors is praised as flawless, omitting peers alerts Swiss HR to interpersonal issues within the team. Such selective praise results in a slightly restricted grade of 4.5 on the Swiss scale.
How to fix it
To upgrade the reference toward a top grade, the employee can request the inclusion of colleagues in the conduct description or strengthen the wording with terms like "stets" or "jederzeit hervorragend".
Suggested wording (German, for your HR department)
Zur Aufwertung auf die Bestnote (6.0) kann die Formulierung verstärkt werden, z.B. durch Einfügen von „stets“ oder „jederzeit hervorragend“.
Hidden criticism detected (grade 4.5)
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 Vorgesetzten war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kunden und Vorgesetzten war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenueber Vorgesetzten und Kollegen war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (grade 4.5)4.5
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 gegenüber Vorgesetzten und den behandelnden Ärzten war jederzeit einwandfrei“