Template & Sample

Work Reference for Household Employees - Template, Generator & Tips

Your housekeeper has worked reliably for three years - now she needs a reference for her next employer. What exactly goes in? And what does «has made an effort» actually mean? Swiss reference language is coded. Those who don't know the codes may unintentionally write a damaging reference.

The complete Reference Kit - free

Reference template as PDF with all mandatory details per Art. 330a CO
Decoder cheat sheet: 27 formulations with meaning on a single page
Interim-reference template with adjusted tense
Tips on 10 typical mistakes - so you never sign a hidden negative code

Updated: September 2026·7 min read

In short

Under Art. 330a CO, your household employee has the right to a work reference at any time - you cannot refuse it.

Two types: the simple reference (confirmation only) or the qualified one with evaluation.
Coded language: 'tried their best' sounds positive but actually means unsatisfactory.
The free generator below creates the finished reference as a PDF.

Go to the reference generator

Sample employment reference (Arbeitszeugnis) for a household help in a private home — Sample, made-up details

Simple vs. Qualified Work Reference

Swiss employment law recognizes two types of work references. The employee can choose which type they want. Many employers also add a personal letter of recommendation: no coded language, in their own words.

Simple Work Reference

Also known as an 'employment confirmation'. Contains only the duration and type of work - no evaluation of performance or conduct. Sometimes preferred when the employment relationship was difficult.

Qualified Work Reference

The standard. In addition to duration and role, it includes an evaluation of performance and conduct. Requested by most employees and expected by future employers.

Art. 330a OR

The employee has the right to request a qualified work reference at any time (Art. 330a para. 1 CO). You cannot refuse this.

Got a reference? Decode the hidden codes

Received a work reference and unsure what it really says? Paste individual phrases - our decoder translates Swiss reference language into plain English and shows the actual school grade behind it.

Reference Decoder

Paste a phrase from your work reference - we translate the coded language into plain English.

Your phrase

Try an example:

💡 Tip: code words like 'always', 'fullest' and 'satisfaction' determine the grade. Without 'always', the sentence drops one level.

Why this matters

'Tried her best' sounds like praise - but means unsatisfactory. Those who don't know the codes may unknowingly sign a reference that damages their next application. You have the right to request changes (Art. 330a CO).

Work Reference Generator

Fill out the form, preview in real-time, and download the finished reference as a PDF.

What a qualified reference must contain

A qualified work reference fits on one page and has six building blocks:

1Title and key facts: 'Work reference', name, role, from-to dates.
2Duties: the concrete tasks done in the household.
3Performance: an evaluation in the recognised coded language.
4Conduct: behaviour towards the employer and the family.
5Reason for leaving: kept neutral, e.g. 'at her own request'.
6Closing: thanks, regret and good wishes, plus place, date, signature.

Document language:

It starts in German, the usual language for this paper in German-speaking Switzerland. Pick the language that you and your employee both read: any language you both understand is fine.

Employer name

Start date

End date

Hours per week

Tasks

Performance rating

Sehr gut

Conduct

Sehr gut

Reason for departure

Recommendation

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Preview

Arbeitszeugnis

[Arbeitgeber Name]
[Adresse]

[Name der Arbeitnehmerin] war vom ___________ bis ___________ als Haushaltshilfe / Reinigungskraft in unserem Privathaushalt tätig. Der Beschäftigungsgrad betrug 4 Stunden pro Woche.

Zu ihren Aufgaben gehörten: Reinigung der Wohnung, Staubsaugen, Wischen, Badezimmer und Küche reinigen, Wäsche waschen und bügeln.

[Name der Arbeitnehmerin] hat die ihr übertragenen Aufgaben stets zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit erledigt. Ihr Verhalten gegenüber uns und Dritten war stets einwandfrei.

Das Arbeitsverhältnis wurde auf Wunsch von [Name der Arbeitnehmerin] aufgelöst.

Wir danken [Name der Arbeitnehmerin] für die geleistete Arbeit und wünschen ihr für die Zukunft alles Gute. Wir können [Name der Arbeitnehmerin] uneingeschränkt weiterempfehlen.

[Adresse], ___________

Arbeitgeber/in

The reference is written - how it becomes valid

An unsigned PDF is only a draft. Four steps until the reference does its job.

1Print it and sign it: place, date and your handwritten signature belong under the text. Without a signature your household employee cannot use it in any application.
2Date it to the last working day: the reference is dated to the end of the employment even if you write it later. A later date invites the question of why it had to be issued afterwards.
3Hand over the original, keep the copy: the signed original is hers, the copy stays in your records so you can reissue an identical duplicate later.
4Let her read it before you hand it over: ask whether the text is accurate. Correcting a sentence now is far easier than arguing about a phrase months later.

Mandatory details

First and last name, the exact employment period with start and end date, the tasks, an assessment of performance and conduct, place, date and signature. The reason for leaving is optional.

Most common mistake

Copying coded phrases such as "she made an effort" from a template without knowing what they mean. They read as friendly and count as a poor grade in Switzerland.

A complete qualified work reference

This is what a finished qualified work reference looks like. Keep the structure and swap the names, dates and rating, or let the generator above create it automatically.

Qualified · very good · 3 yearsArt. 330a CO

Brunner family, Musterstrasse 1, 8002 Zurich WORK REFERENCE Ms Ana Costa, born 5 March 1985, was employed in our private household as a household employee and cleaner from 1 March 2023 to 31 May 2026, at around 8 hours per week. Her duties included cleaning the apartment, vacuuming and mopping, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, and washing and ironing the laundry. Ms Costa always completed the tasks assigned to her to our full satisfaction. She worked reliably, thoroughly and independently, and kept the overview even during busier periods. Her conduct towards our family was impeccable at all times. She was friendly, discreet and trustworthy; we entrusted our household to her without hesitation. The employment ends at Ms Costa's own request, as she is moving away. We very much regret her departure, thank her for her valuable work and wish her all the best for her professional and personal future. Zurich, 31 May 2026 Brunner family

The performance phrase in the sample equals a 'very good' rating (see coded language below).

Reference Language: The Codes Behind the Formulations

Switzerland has an established coded language for work references. What sounds positive can be hidden criticism. Here are the five performance levels:

★★★★★Outstanding

«...always completed all assigned tasks to our fullest satisfaction»

★★★★Very good

«...always completed all assigned tasks to our full satisfaction»

★★★Good

«...completed all assigned tasks to our full satisfaction»

★★Satisfactory

«...completed all assigned tasks to our satisfaction»

★Unsatisfactory

«...tried to complete all assigned tasks to our satisfaction»

Warning

Warning: 'tried to complete' is a coded negative rating - it means the person did not perform the tasks satisfactorily. Use this formulation only deliberately.

Interim Reference: The Often-Forgotten Right

You don't need to resign to get a reference. Every employee has the right to an interim reference at any time - especially useful during employer changes, long tenures, when pay or duties change, or internal applications.

When an interim reference makes sense:

1When the employer changes (move, divorce, new family situation)
2After 3-5 years, to lock in the performance record while memory is fresh
3Before a pay raise or expanded responsibilities
4When planning to apply for a second job

💡 Our generator automatically switches to interim mode if you leave the end date empty.

4 Tips for a Correct Work Reference

Truthful and benevolent

The reference must be truthful and at the same time benevolently worded. It should not unnecessarily hinder the employee's future career.

No hidden negative codes

Avoid unintentionally negative formulations. Those unfamiliar with reference language may accidentally issue a bad reference.

Employee's right to amendments

The employee can request changes if the reference is inaccurate or unfair. In case of dispute, the labour court decides.

Keep a copy

Keep a copy of the issued reference. In case of later inquiries or disputes, you'll have proof.

WhatsApp: Offering a reference letter

Maria

online

Hi Maria, since our employment is ending soon, I'd like to write you a reference letter. Do you have any preferences for what it should include?

10:30

Oh, that's very kind! Yes, it would be great if you could mention my reliability and thoroughness. And that I work independently.

10:45

Happy to - all well deserved! I'll prepare it this week and send you a draft to review before I finalize it.

10:52

Thank you so much! That really helps for my next position.

10:55

Message

For other moments too, from a moved appointment to announcing the end, there are ready-made WhatsApp messages to copy.

Employment ending?

The last duties to close it properly

Final payslip with the holiday balance, report the exit to the compensation office, cancel accident insurance. The closing checklist walks you through all of it, with deadlines.

Open the closing checklist

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Frequently Asked Questions About Work References

Am I obligated to issue a work reference as an employer?

Yes. Art. 330a CO gives every employee the right to request a reference at any time - even during the employment relationship. This applies to all positions, including private households.

My cleaner only worked for us for 3 months. Do I still need to issue a reference?

Yes. There is no minimum duration. Even for short employment relationships, employees have the right to a work reference. For very short periods, a simple reference (employment confirmation) is often sufficient. The same applies to a job that ends on a fixed date or during probation.

Can I write a bad work reference?

It depends. The reference must be truthful and benevolent. You must not make false statements, but you may honestly evaluate performance. Use the established reference language - the levels are clearly defined.

What does 'always to our fullest satisfaction' mean?

This is the highest rating in Swiss reference language - grade 5 (outstanding). 'Always' and 'fullest' together form the top mark. Without 'always', the rating drops one level.

How long do I need to keep the work reference?

There is no legal retention requirement for the employer. However, we recommend at least 10 years - matching the general statute of limitations. The employee should keep the original.

Does the reference have to be signed - and who keeps a copy?

Yes. An unsigned reference is not a reference: you sign it by hand as the employer, with place and date. The signed original goes to your household employee and you keep a copy in your records. If she later needs a duplicate you can reissue an identical one without any discussion.

How quickly must I issue it and when does the entitlement lapse?

On request and without undue delay, in practice within two to four weeks. The entitlement to a work reference lapses ten years after the employment ends (Art. 127 CO), so a former household employee can still ask for one years later. In that case date it to the last working day rather than the day you write it. To find the last working day after notice, use the notice period calculator.

I am the household employee: how do I request my reference letter?

A short written request is enough, and you do not need to give a reason: Art. 330a CO entitles you to a certificate at any time, during and after the employment. The employer must deliver it without undue delay, in practice within two to four weeks, and the claim only expires ten years after the employment ends. Instead of the full reference you can also ask for a simple confirmation of employment. What the phrasings really mean is shown by the reference decoder further up. If no new job is in sight when this one ends, check your right to unemployment benefits early.

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