"zu unserer Zufriedenheit"
Category: Performance Assessment
Meaning
Grade 4 (adequate). No 'always', no 'full' -- weak praise, barely positive.
A nearby wording to compare
Compare this with "stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit", assessed as Swiss grade 1 rather than 3. The change in wording illustrates why modifiers and sentence structure matter.
"stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit"Switzerland vs. Germany
This phrase is rated grade 3 (sufficient) in Switzerland, and grade 4 (adequate) in Germany. In Switzerland, this phrase is rated better than in Germany.
Background: In Switzerland, "good" is the norm qualification (Labour Court Zurich), while in Germany, "satisfactory" (grade 3) is the statistical average (BAG 18.11.2014, 9 AZR 584/13).
Sources
- IHK Bonn Merkblatt Arbeitszeugnis
- ifb Betriebsrat, achtung-arbeitszeugnis
Swiss employment-reference context
Swiss guidance says a full work reference should clearly cover duties, performance, and behavior, and that ambiguous coded messages are not permitted. The decoder explains common interpretations but cannot determine whether a specific reference is legally valid.
Read SECO's official work-reference FAQNote
In the Swiss context, to be interpreted more as 'adequate'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "zu unserer Zufriedenheit" mean in a work reference? +
Grade 4 (adequate). No 'always', no 'full' -- weak praise, barely positive.
What grade does "zu unserer Zufriedenheit" correspond to in Switzerland? +
In Switzerland, this phrase corresponds to grade 3 (sufficient). In Germany, it corresponds to grade 4 (adequate).