Templates

Work reference templates Switzerland, free of charge

Four structured templates under Swiss law — as Word and PDF download. For one-off cases where the generator effort is not worthwhile.

Four template variants
Word + PDF
Structured to Art. 330a CO

Four formats

Available template variants

Full reference (final reference)

The qualified work reference issued upon termination of the employment relationship. Contains personal details, role, duration of employment, performance and conduct assessment as well as a closing formula.

Full reference in the Kompass standard

Structured around the five performance fields with a controlled verbal scale. Observable behaviour instead of codes — the modern Swiss editorial standard.

Work confirmation

Lean variant without an assessment. Mandatory details: name, role, duration. Issued at the special request of the employee (Art. 330a para. 2 CO).

Interim reference

Issued during an ongoing employment relationship where there is a legitimate interest. Phrased in the present tense, without a closing formula. Content is the same as a full reference.

In preparation

Note on the download

The Word and PDF downloads are currently being given a final review by our Swiss HR consulting partner and will shortly be available here for direct download. In the meantime, you can use the generator (Starter plan permanently free of charge) — it produces legally compliant PDFs immediately, with a compliance check and QR verification.

Straight to the generator — 15 minutes to your first reference
View the complete Kompass example reference as a guide
Read up on the mandatory components under Art. 330a CO

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are the templates free of charge?

Yes. You can download the Word and PDF templates free of charge without registration. If you would like to create the reference conveniently with a compliance check and QR verification, you can additionally use the generator (Starter plan also free of charge).

Have the templates been legally reviewed?

The structures follow the mandatory components under Art. 330a CO and established Swiss HR practice. However, since template texts can never replace specific legal advice, we recommend consulting a specialist in disputed individual cases.

Can I insert the template into my own letterhead?

Yes. The Word template is deliberately designed to be neutral. You can add your company's letterhead, logo and footer. In the generator's Pro plan you save the letterhead once — all future references will then automatically appear in the corporate design.

What is the difference compared with creation in the generator?

Templates are static Word/PDF files — you write the text yourself. The generator guides you through the 5-step wizard, drafts with AI support and checks for compliance. Templates are for one-off cases, the generator is for regular production.

Faster than any template

The generator produces a PDF with compliance check, content fingerprint and QR verification in 15 minutes — faster than adapting a Word template.