Under Art. 330a of the Swiss Code of Obligations, employees can request an employment certificate at any time. A full certificate covers the nature and duration of employment as well as performance and conduct; a confirmation of employment is limited to the nature and duration.
Right to an employment certificate
SECO explains that you can request a certificate during employment as an interim certificate or after employment ends. The claim generally becomes time-barred ten years after the end of the employment relationship.
Full certificate or confirmation?
Full employment certificate
Covers the nature and duration of employment, performance and conduct.
Confirmation of employment
Limited to the nature and duration of employment.
What should a full certificate contain?
- identity of employer and employee
- start and end dates
- important functions and activities
- meaningful assessment of performance and conduct
- date and valid signature
Truthfulness, completeness and goodwill
The certificate should be truthful and complete while being worded in a fair and benevolent manner. “Benevolent” does not mean that everything must be positive; truth and relevance remain decisive.
Are secret codes allowed?
SECO states that ambiguous coded wording intended to transmit hidden negative messages is not permissible. A certificate should be read as a whole rather than mechanically translating individual phrases.
Which certificates should you include?
arbeit.swiss recommends keeping your employment certificates complete and ordering them with the most recent first, subject to any portal instructions.
Check that dates, job titles and employers are consistent with your CV. A difference may be explainable, but it should not surprise you after submission.
When can an interim certificate help?
It can be useful after a change of manager, a significant change in duties or a reorganisation, so the period completed so far is documented.
Keep your CV consistent with the evidence
The CV presents your career; employment certificates are important external evidence of roles and periods.
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