[_nalply]

I live and work in Switzerland. I have some of these reference letters. About twenty years ago there was a backlash against the codes, so I got some reference letters with a declaration that they weren't «coded».

I never worked for big corporations. Once one of the founders did the HR herself, but she was not a HR person and hated the codes herself. Another time I was asked to write my reference letter myself.

My opinion is that Germany has painted itself into a corner. The requirements are contradictory in itself. It's not possible to be truthful and generous at the same time. However the employers are obligated, and between a rock and a hard place. Either the employee sues them because the reference letter is not benevolent enough or another employer sues them because the reference letter was not truthful.

So HR invented the codes, but not all employees were easily duped. The saga goes on.