„wegen seiner geselligen Art bei den Mitarbeitern sehr beliebt“
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)
“...very popular among colleagues due to his sociable nature...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This phrase suggests a lack of professional boundaries, overly familiar behaviour, or potential excessive alcohol consumption during working hours (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 reference ('Arbeitszeugnis'), praising an employee's 'sociable nature' rather than their work output is a coded warning. Due to the principle of goodwill under art. 330a CO, negative conduct is masked in polite terms. HR professionals read this as a sign of workplace unprofessionalism or fraternisation.
How to fix it
It is recommended to object in writing to the employer and request replacing this phrase with a clearly positive performance clause such as "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 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 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
- wegen seiner geselligen Art bei den Mitarbeitern sehr geschätztWeak / Deficient (grade 3.0)3.0
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Team ausserordentlich beliebtInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Team sehr geschätztInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
- Wegen seiner geselligen Art war er im Team und bei den Kollegen ausserordentlich beliebtInsufficient (Grade 3.5)3.5
Decode your entire reference letter
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Check your whole certificate freeRead this entry in German: Bedeutung von „wegen seiner geselligen Art bei den Mitarbeitern sehr beliebt“