Knowledge · Swiss law9 min readUpdated April 2026

Knowledge

Swiss reference letter Entitlement, content, types

What a Swiss reference letter must contain, when it is issued and what rights employees and employers have — concisely summarised, with cross-links into the details.

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Entitlement under Art. 330a CO
Mandatory parts of the full letter
Correction and limitation periods

Definition

What is a reference letter?

A reference letter is the written confirmation issued by the employer about the type and duration of an employment relationship as well as the performance and conduct of the employee. In Switzerland, the entitlement is set out in Art. 330a of the Code of Obligations (CO) — concisely worded, broadly interpreted in practice.

The letter has two functions that keep each other in check: it must be truthful, while at the same time not unduly hindering the employee's career progress (duty of benevolence). This tension is the source of the real challenge of well-drafted reference letters — and of tools that ease that work.

Content

Mandatory parts of the full letter

A qualified full letter without these elements is incomplete and can be required to be amended.

Personal details

Full name, date of birth or another unambiguous identifying detail. Mandatory for every type of letter.

Duration of employment

Start and end date. For chained contracts or role changes, the respective sub-periods as well.

Role and tasks

Official job title plus a concrete description of the activities performed. Bullet lists are not enough.

Performance assessment

In the full letter: traceable assessment of professional performance. Provable, factual, not pressed into a grade scheme.

Conduct assessment

In the full letter: conduct towards superiors, colleagues and, where applicable, clients. Factual, free of discriminatory hints.

Closing formula

Reason for ending (where relevant or desired), thanks, good wishes for the further career path.

Which letter when?

Three types of Swiss letters

Full letter

The qualified reference letter with performance and conduct assessment. The standard at the end of the employment relationship.

Art. 330a CO in detail →

Employment confirmation

The simple confirmation of role and duration — without assessment. Issued at the request of the employee.

When the confirmation suffices →

Interim letter

On request during an ongoing employment relationship — e.g. on change of supervisor, reorganisation or upcoming applications.

Right to an interim letter →

"A reference letter binds the issuing company — legally, professionally, personally. Whoever writes it writes for someone who will use it to open the next chapter."

Who, when, how often

When is the entitlement triggered?

At the end of the employment relationship: the standard case — the employer owes a qualified full letter.
On request at any time during the employment relationship: with a legitimate interest (change of supervisor, reorganisation, upcoming application) as an interim letter.
On the employee's specific request: only role and duration, as an employment confirmation.
Later — correction or re-issuance: where content is demonstrably incorrect, there is a right to correction. Limitation period: 10 years under Art. 127 CO.

Dive deeper

Three areas where practice rubs the most — and where ZeugnisPilot focuses.

Art. 330a CO

The central norm for the Swiss reference letter — wording, scope of entitlement and right to correction.

To the norm →

Benevolent and truthful

The two duties that collide most often in practice. Ways to reconcile them — without hidden codes.

Pulling off the balancing act →

Hidden codes

Classic ambiguities in Swiss reference letters — and why the Kompass Standard does without them.

See through the codes →

Both sides

What employees and employers should know

From the employee's perspective

You can request the letter at any time — in writing or orally. The employer owes it within an appropriate period.
If you find the content incorrect, object specifically — and refer to verifiable facts.
On request, a plain employment confirmation is enough — for instance if you want to request the full letter at a later point.

From the employer's perspective

Document throughout the employment relationship — review meetings, target achievements, incidents. Without evidence, your position in court is weak.
Avoid hidden codes — they are legally risky and personally hurtful.
Apply the four-eyes principle: someone who does not directly manage the person reviews the draft before sending.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who is entitled to a reference letter in Switzerland?

Every employee — regardless of workload, contract type or duration of employment. Internships, casual roles and fixed-term contracts also create the entitlement under Art. 330a CO.

When must the reference letter be issued?

On request at any time, but at the latest at the end of the employment relationship. Doctrine and practice require an "appropriate" period — typically within a few days to weeks of the request.

What form does the reference letter need?

In writing. Hand-signed or electronically signed, on company letterhead or comparable format. A QR code with a verification link is not mandatory, but builds trust and reduces forgery risk.

What is the difference between a full letter and an employment confirmation?

The full letter contains a qualified performance and conduct assessment. The employment confirmation is limited to role and duration — it is issued at the specific request of the employee (Art. 330a para. 2 CO).

May a reference letter contain "hidden codes"?

Legally speaking, no — codes violate the requirement of clarity. A wording that industry insiders read differently than the affected person is problematic. The Kompass Standard intentionally avoids codes.

What can I do if the reference letter is incorrect?

There is a right to correction. The affected person identifies the contested passages specifically; the employer must be able to substantiate the assessment factually. In a dispute, the labour court decides.

How long do I have to request a reference letter?

The claim becomes time-barred after 10 years (Art. 127 CO). In practice it is usually asserted within a few weeks because the letter is needed for the next application.

How does ZeugnisPilot standardise reference letters?

Through the Kompass Standard: five performance fields, observable behaviour instead of grade schemes, plain language instead of codes, a built-in compliance check against Art. 330a CO. This makes drafting faster and the output legally more robust.

PDF · scientific paper

Kompass by ZeugnisPilot — full paper

If you want to anchor the Swiss reference letter methodically in your HR practice: the scientific paper on the Kompass Standard, with sample letter and practical guide.

Download PDF

From knowledge to a finished letter

Instead of manually accounting for every detail in this article: ZeugnisPilot automatically checks your draft against Art. 330a CO — mandatory parts, clarity, discrimination risks.