„zeigte für seine Arbeit stets grosses Verständnis“
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)
“...always showed great understanding for his work...”
What Swiss HR actually reads
The employee was lazy and achieved no actual work results, corresponding to 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), employers use coded language to express negative assessments while adhering to the principle of goodwill. Stating that someone showed "understanding" for their work implies passive observation rather than active contribution. Swiss HR reads this as a clear indication of inactivity and lack of output.
How to fix it
It is recommended to object in writing and request that this phrase be replaced 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 3.0)
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 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
- zeigte stets grosses Verständnis für seine ArbeitWeak / Poor (grade 3.0)3.0
- zeigte grosses Verständnis für seine ArbeitWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
- zeigte stets grosses Interesse an seiner ArbeitInsufficient (grade 3.5)3.5
- zeigte stets grosses Verständnis für seine AufgabenWeak / Deficient (Grade 2.0)2.0
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 „zeigte für seine Arbeit stets grosses Verständnis“