diff --git a/addons/hr/hr_department.py b/addons/hr/hr_department.py
index 72bd9fd4ce0..ef1160132a5 100644
--- a/addons/hr/hr_department.py
+++ b/addons/hr/hr_department.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class hr_department(osv.osv):
     _columns = {
         'name': fields.char('Department Name', size=64, required=True),
         'complete_name': fields.function(_dept_name_get_fnc, method=True, type="char", string='Name'),
-        'company_id': fields.many2one('res.company', 'Company', select=True, required=True),
+        'company_id': fields.many2one('res.company', 'Company', select=True, required=False),
         'parent_id': fields.many2one('hr.department', 'Parent Department', select=True),
         'child_ids': fields.one2many('hr.department', 'parent_id', 'Child Departments'),
         'note': fields.text('Note'),