Navigating Dual Reporting Lines and New Employee Management in Our New Structure

We recently developed a new company structure and request clarity on the questions below.

Reporting to Multiple Supervisors

1. Is it okay for someone to report to two people in the same department and to have that indicated in the new structure?

Managing New Employees with Reportees

2. I have an employee we hired recently who is only two months old in the company and has someone below her. We felt that as she settles, we should have her reportees reporting to the manager instead, but we do not want them to disregard her authority. How do we manage that?

The usual reporting arrangement is one solid line to the direct manager and a dotted line to the alternate or indirect manager. You will need to communicate to the employees that the arrangement is temporary and just for the new direct manager to settle in. You could also indicate for how long you expect this reporting arrangement to be in place.