---
title: "For HR Admins: Departments"
slug: "erm-settings-departments"
updated: 2026-08-18T00:14:44Z
published: 2026-08-18T00:14:44Z
canonical: "docs.visualvault.com/erm-settings-departments"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.visualvault.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# For HR Admins: Departments

**Role and Permissions** is where administrators manage roles, grant or remove permissions, assign users to roles, configure resource access, and organize departments.

---

## Key Capabilities

- Configure how managers can view records of the employees who report to them.​
- Reduce risk of managers seeing records they shouldn't, while ensuring they can see the records they need.
- Add or remove role-based access to a department.
- View a list of employees within a department.

---

## Navigating to Departments

The **Departments** page is located within ERM Settings, under the **Roles and Permissions** area.

1. Log in and select **Settings** from the left navigation menu.
2. Click the **Roles and Permissions** card.
3. Click the **Departments** tab.

> [!NOTE]
> 🔍 **Troubleshooting Note:** If the **Settings** menu item, **Roles and Permissions** card, or **Departments** tab is not visible, this may indicate a permissions issue. Ask your organization's administrator to confirm your access level.

---

## Using Employee Access

![](https://cdn.document360.io/10763bcf-f13e-488f-9c3e-d6737c42ab5e/Images/Documentation/2026-04-24 ERM_Settings_Roles-and-permissions_Departments.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-13T13%3A09%3A11Z&se=2026-10-13T14%3A09%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=RrHIxbaJ2BmH8PGw4TJ26fzymJo21%2FZrAZLKulR7QCc%3D)

### View, add or remove role-based access to a department

1. From the **Roles and Permissions** screen, click the **Departments** tab.
2. Locate a department name, using the filters and search if necessary.
3. Click **Manage Roles** to open the modal.
4. **Add** or **Remove** user-created roles for that department.
  1. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/10763bcf-f13e-488f-9c3e-d6737c42ab5e/Images/Documentation/image(399).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-13T13%3A09%3A11Z&se=2026-10-13T14%3A09%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=RrHIxbaJ2BmH8PGw4TJ26fzymJo21%2FZrAZLKulR7QCc%3D)

### View employees within a department

1. Locate a department name, using the filters and search if necessary.
2. Click on the department **Name**.
3. Click on the **Users** tab.
4. View the list of employees in that department.
  1. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/10763bcf-f13e-488f-9c3e-d6737c42ab5e/Images/Documentation/image(398).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-13T13%3A09%3A11Z&se=2026-10-13T14%3A09%3A11Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=RrHIxbaJ2BmH8PGw4TJ26fzymJo21%2FZrAZLKulR7QCc%3D)

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** System roles may be visible in this view, however they cannot be removed.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

#### **Do employees have to be assigned to a department?**

It is best practice that an employee is assigned to a department. **Department** membership is determined by the employee's department field on their [**Employee Detail**](/v1/docs/erm-employee-list#how-do-i-view-employee-documents) page.

An HR Admin can configure the [**Employee Access**](/v1/docs/employee-access#how-do-i-enable-departmental-access) to grant Departmental Access as well as Access Exceptions. When enabled, managers can view all employee records within their department.

### What should I do if I have a problem with ERM?

If you are unable to log in to ERM or if you encounter a problem with one of the modules in ERM, please submit a ticket in our [Support Portal](https://visualvault.freshdesk.com/).