diff --git a/addons/hr/hr.py b/addons/hr/hr.py
index d98058fe532..6b1b19afeed 100644
--- a/addons/hr/hr.py
+++ b/addons/hr/hr.py
@@ -178,6 +178,13 @@ class hr_employee(osv.osv):
             address_id = address and address['default'] or False
         return {'value': {'address_id' : address_id}}
 
+    def onchange_department_id(self, cr, uid, ids, department_id, context=None):
+        value = {'parent_id': False}
+        if department_id:
+            department = self.pool.get('hr.department').browse(cr, uid, department_id)
+            value['parent_id'] = department.manager_id.id
+        return {'value': value}
+
     def onchange_user(self, cr, uid, ids, user_id, context=None):
         work_email = False
         if user_id:
diff --git a/addons/hr/hr_view.xml b/addons/hr/hr_view.xml
index d0fee6ec8b7..916a5e3cb25 100644
--- a/addons/hr/hr_view.xml
+++ b/addons/hr/hr_view.xml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
                         <field name="company_id" widget="selection" groups="base.group_multi_company,base.group_extended" on_change="onchange_company(company_id)"/>
                         <field name="active" groups="base.group_extended"/>
                         <newline/>
-                        <field name="department_id" widget="selection" />
+                        <field name="department_id" widget="selection" on_change="onchange_department_id(department_id)" />
                         <field name="parent_id" />
                         </group>
                         <group colspan="2" col="1">