„Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden 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 clients was at all times flawless...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The deliberate omission of colleagues indicates that the employee was a lone wolf or caused significant team conflicts.
Hidden rating
Satisfactory (grade 4.5)
German rating: Befriedigend (Note 4.5)
What it means in detail
Standard Swiss conduct clauses assess behaviour towards three groups: superiors, colleagues, and clients. By omitting colleagues, the employer uses eloquent silence ('beredtes Schweigen') to inform HR readers that the employee had poor teamwork or interpersonal issues. This corresponds to a grade of 4.5 on the Swiss 1-6 scale.
How to fix it
The employee should ask to include colleagues in the conduct description to upgrade the reference.
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 Kunden und Vorgesetzten war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten war jederzeit einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Ihr Verhalten gegenüber Vorgesetzten und Kunden war stets einwandfreiSatisfactory (Grade 4.5)4.5
- Verhalten gegenüber Kunden und Vorgesetzten war stets 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 Kunden war jederzeit einwandfrei“