„Wegen seiner geselligen Art war er im Kollegenkreis sehr geschätzt“
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)
“...Because of his sociable nature he was very popular among his colleagues...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
This phrase hints at inappropriate workplace behavior, potential alcohol issues, or excessive socializing during work hours (grade 3.0 on the Swiss 1-6 scale).
Hidden rating
Weak / Poor (Grade 3.0)
German rating: Schwach / Mangelhaft (Note 3.0)
What it means in detail
Under Swiss employment law (art. 330a CO), negative traits are disguised using benevolent wording. Emphasizing a "sociable nature" ("geselligen Art") rather than professional collaboration signals that the employee prioritized social activities over work or displayed conduct issues. Swiss HR readers interpret this as a severe red flag.
How to fix it
The employee should lodge a written objection with the employer and demand the removal of this phrase, replacing it with standard positive conduct clauses 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 3.0)
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
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis sehr geschätztWeak / Unsatisfactory (grade 3.0)3.0
- wegen seiner geselligen Art sehr geschätztWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
- wegen seiner geselligen Art im Kollegenkreis sehr beliebtWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- wegen ihrer geselligen Art bei den Kollegen sehr geschätztInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
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 „Wegen seiner geselligen Art war er im Kollegenkreis sehr geschätzt“