A line manager is the person an employee reports to directly in the organisational structure. The line manager is usually responsible for day-to-day supervision, performance feedback, and approving requests such as leave or overtime.
What it means
"Line" distinguishes this relationship from a dotted-line or functional reporting relationship, where someone provides guidance but not direct authority. The line manager is normally the first point of approval in HR and payroll workflows that require sign-off.
Where it fits in
Many payroll-adjacent approvals - overtime claims, leave requests, expense claims - route through the line manager before they reach HR or payroll for processing, making the line-manager relationship a practical control point in the process.
Key rules
- The manager an employee reports to directly, as opposed to a dotted-line relationship.
- Typically the first approver for leave, overtime and similar requests.
- Responsible for day-to-day supervision and performance feedback.
- A practical control point in payroll-adjacent approval workflows.
