Connection Fields
Use connections fields to specify the nature of the connection between employees. You can customize the appearance of connections so they are easier to identify on the org chart. These connections are used in the Org chart to represent different types of relationships between employees: A dashed line and dotted line are similar in appearance and can be used to indicate temporary or advisory relationships; a solid line, on the other hand, is often used to represent a direct reporting relationship between two employees.
Once created, connection fields will be applicable/configurable from the employee profile. By default, connection fields are visible in Shareable Links.
- Go to Settings > Connection fields.
- Click the + New connection field button.
Choose connection type: dotted, dashed, or solid line. This will only affect the appearance of the connection.
Provide a field name and choose a line color. You can also modify the visibility on the org chart by checking the Display line on Org Chart box.
- Click Create new field to finish.
Unlike a solid-line reporting structure, where there is a direct, hierarchical relationship (such as a manager and their direct reports), a dotted-line relationship typically indicates a less formal, temporary, or secondary level of reporting.
In this way, a dotted-line relationship could show that an employee has a secondary role or responsibility that involves collaborating with or receiving guidance from another department or manager, but without the authority or primary reporting relationship that comes with a solid line. This might occur in cases like:
- A project manager who oversees cross-functional teams but reports to the department head.
- An employee who works under two managers, one for their primary role and another for a special project or additional responsibilities.
