## What approval chains do

An approval chain is the sequence of people who will review an employee's compensation during a cycle, ordered from first reviewer to last. Front-line managers review first, then their managers, and so on up to the final approver. Each employee has their own chain, and an employee only moves to the next reviewer after the current one submits.

To configure approval chains, open the cycle and go to **Configurations** > **Approval Chains**.


## Generating approval chains

Click **Generate Approval Chains** to create an initial set of chains based on your HRIS management hierarchy. For each employee, the system builds a chain from their direct manager up through the reporting line, filtering to only include people who are planners in the cycle.

After generating, you'll see a table of all employees with their chain displayed as an ordered list of planners.

 ![](https://brainfish-storage-prod.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/eb9365bf-c937-4d2f-b407-a7b5603ae429/e7ab1837-c114-4c01-8af9-73aea9a30808/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPPN5IL3S5F65IVZ%2F20260505%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260505T195559Z&X-Amz-Expires=3000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMH%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMiJHMEUCIFEgV7mjxzuSZIuOsJmQZvcBWbf%2Flbzmqf6bIJj9O6FrAiEAhk8pDvN%2BlrD7C%2FqBfPTAZVCzK8wv%2Bmql4PiDyfRBrjQq5QUIiv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgwzMDgxMjU5NzUyODciDEJBCoEhgErMxW%2F55yq5BZqwDgVKbM9ddcoFYm5gAgOj7zvxd%2BUipoEcKErhqnAJKjslNQr%2BLfiOIG3VkGJ2V0PMfXDg0hI5EmK%2BBuwBqpVZaa6GW7t4NTBW4p2qC7ml9JANm1Q8miWSYI27eXw5s0jekwERJdFKLywJBwdctmopfvSgt91VQI7wjXjNJNbCyj77otlndZGFN8Cz9%2FETm1x8FuU7hSZNTepTYOfYCWwYP%2BBaWzQrRZ0YBiRvv2qqTyOrxnaotVV3%2BntVhjgEukNUe%2B5KKIhIIvRoHPBa3LtIPaZoICol6%2FISmAuh9hiM%2B4eV4b3bVdepVhJ%2FcB%2FQ5CZfycQNOHqzF9anqLXv%2FwBaAIW%2FN%2FasRafzR2IFAv3UdpYZFLZ4PxaREX7BJk9PFwYgeVBD%2BR%2Fx9PVcyobhR985IXG53W7gjIhTlMlYrIpHexD6Uz3fHyRU%2Bf2tKdX8it7eau7etfR8GgyxpupHEa%2BNU1PM7U9Stw%2F1r4qph6uW8Ka8XhtNsFfPC%2B3t3H%2FO99EJtWfgUnwq9sEXu43RrDvixpY8n1hLIv%2Fasc9NaBAQd1Cfg6A0zMojtkiOJF9RWZcZPRQyHH3mre%2F6U6HgckoB39xtShN5%2Bxj1mQJ15hE4Uoz%2B6FGY1CGRnPIw7hl6kJZf32qqeUs1sMOAejnS64ZWqDj6z57x7gFCjv2E%2ByqO6cLnP3BvgQSvzxCOo561VpCwoGGxJPfrm3biBlvps4GEsLePkp09sULFLrRiaqawrUKm7I6ELGA3ddypSNVnGhV8mNvqF4TvBS5KZK0lmrVjScXmxkpFwG3CeDLNm1TLKgIZpeydqdXoj1Schem3u4TxLTYq6V39VhwzrrfnAn5mcgLd9BPtZmaQvNwp3vX2fwNqMYXhsJPnP2I3mxhVGYVoGWNQhRuA7N5sBsQET0%2Fp439siXaqZqcworjozwY6kAGlfgZlLs7%2BJ5GHVT2Ib9NttglQJdDmO9mOYerFKIpNB2WDq38rUI58%2BN8MhhRA%2FLstSYjGdik%2BLI2YY1XDy7uIA%2Bs%2BYipXqX8BBc0VNX8jCCRHESGtIXUKJ0zuOJRSlTiGAaqqDoWQU6OkdORRGidnXajhbeGUPsSab7V74WR%2Bg7GEhjYWnkuPrgCo0MkNxCM%3D&X-Amz-Signature=e30b8b46885194a53f1df244944f820955e65297cae3e226ce59bf47725477d0&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment " =846x441")


## Editing approval chains

### Bulk actions

Select one or more employees, then choose an action:

* **Replace planner**: Swap one planner for another across the selected employees' chains.
* **Add planner**: Add a planner to the beginning or end of the selected employees' chains.
* **Remove planners**: Remove one or more planners from the selected employees' chains.

Use the filters (department, planner at each position) to narrow the table before selecting, so you can target changes to specific groups.

 ![](https://brainfish-storage-prod.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/eb9365bf-c937-4d2f-b407-a7b5603ae429/89d8defa-f5d4-4fb9-bc26-2eb736686fe1/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPPN5IL3S5F65IVZ%2F20260505%2Fus-east-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260505T195559Z&X-Amz-Expires=3000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMH%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMiJHMEUCIFEgV7mjxzuSZIuOsJmQZvcBWbf%2Flbzmqf6bIJj9O6FrAiEAhk8pDvN%2BlrD7C%2FqBfPTAZVCzK8wv%2Bmql4PiDyfRBrjQq5QUIiv%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgwzMDgxMjU5NzUyODciDEJBCoEhgErMxW%2F55yq5BZqwDgVKbM9ddcoFYm5gAgOj7zvxd%2BUipoEcKErhqnAJKjslNQr%2BLfiOIG3VkGJ2V0PMfXDg0hI5EmK%2BBuwBqpVZaa6GW7t4NTBW4p2qC7ml9JANm1Q8miWSYI27eXw5s0jekwERJdFKLywJBwdctmopfvSgt91VQI7wjXjNJNbCyj77otlndZGFN8Cz9%2FETm1x8FuU7hSZNTepTYOfYCWwYP%2BBaWzQrRZ0YBiRvv2qqTyOrxnaotVV3%2BntVhjgEukNUe%2B5KKIhIIvRoHPBa3LtIPaZoICol6%2FISmAuh9hiM%2B4eV4b3bVdepVhJ%2FcB%2FQ5CZfycQNOHqzF9anqLXv%2FwBaAIW%2FN%2FasRafzR2IFAv3UdpYZFLZ4PxaREX7BJk9PFwYgeVBD%2BR%2Fx9PVcyobhR985IXG53W7gjIhTlMlYrIpHexD6Uz3fHyRU%2Bf2tKdX8it7eau7etfR8GgyxpupHEa%2BNU1PM7U9Stw%2F1r4qph6uW8Ka8XhtNsFfPC%2B3t3H%2FO99EJtWfgUnwq9sEXu43RrDvixpY8n1hLIv%2Fasc9NaBAQd1Cfg6A0zMojtkiOJF9RWZcZPRQyHH3mre%2F6U6HgckoB39xtShN5%2Bxj1mQJ15hE4Uoz%2B6FGY1CGRnPIw7hl6kJZf32qqeUs1sMOAejnS64ZWqDj6z57x7gFCjv2E%2ByqO6cLnP3BvgQSvzxCOo561VpCwoGGxJPfrm3biBlvps4GEsLePkp09sULFLrRiaqawrUKm7I6ELGA3ddypSNVnGhV8mNvqF4TvBS5KZK0lmrVjScXmxkpFwG3CeDLNm1TLKgIZpeydqdXoj1Schem3u4TxLTYq6V39VhwzrrfnAn5mcgLd9BPtZmaQvNwp3vX2fwNqMYXhsJPnP2I3mxhVGYVoGWNQhRuA7N5sBsQET0%2Fp439siXaqZqcworjozwY6kAGlfgZlLs7%2BJ5GHVT2Ib9NttglQJdDmO9mOYerFKIpNB2WDq38rUI58%2BN8MhhRA%2FLstSYjGdik%2BLI2YY1XDy7uIA%2Bs%2BYipXqX8BBc0VNX8jCCRHESGtIXUKJ0zuOJRSlTiGAaqqDoWQU6OkdORRGidnXajhbeGUPsSab7V74WR%2Bg7GEhjYWnkuPrgCo0MkNxCM%3D&X-Amz-Signature=66d843e5a0a2c2d063e78702e515eee543f342ad9656240876e6d528b7843b67&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment)

### CSV upload

For larger or more complex edits:


1. Click **Download current CSV** to get the current chains.
2. Edit the CSV. Each row is an employee, with columns for Employee Email, Status, Department, Planner 1, Planner 2, etc.
3. Click **Upload new CSV**. The upload portal validates your file and flags errors (duplicate planners, blank emails, unrecognized addresses). You can fix errors directly in the portal before saving.

The upload only changes chains for employees listed in the CSV. Employees not included are left unchanged.

### Regenerating chains

If you need to start over, click **Regenerate approval chains** from the menu. This permanently resets all chains to the original HRIS management hierarchy, discarding any manual edits.


## Approval statuses

As employees move through their chain, their status updates. These statuses are relative to the planner viewing them, except where noted.

| Status | What it means |
|----|----|
| **Pending submission** | An earlier planner in the chain hasn't submitted yet. Shown as "X planners away" to indicate how far the employee is from reaching this planner's worksheet. |
| **In worksheet** | The employee is in this planner's active worksheet and ready to review. The planner can make compensation adjustments. Labeled "Ready to review" in the worksheet. |
| **Submitted** | This planner has submitted the employee. If there are more planners in the chain, the employee moves to the next one. If this was the final planner, the employee is fully approved and only admins can make further changes. |
| **Ineligible** | The employee is not eligible for compensation adjustments and has no active chain. Same for all planners. |



## Editing chains during an active cycle

You can update approval chains after a cycle is active, but changes affect where employees sit in the workflow. The general rule: after an update, the employee is assigned to the first planner in the new chain who hasn't already submitted for that employee.

Some common scenarios:

| Change | What happens |
|----|----|
| Chain reordered (e.g., A, B, C to A, C, B) | Employee moves to the first planner in the new order who hasn't submitted. |
| New planners replace existing ones | Employee moves to the first new planner who hasn't submitted. |
| Chain removed entirely | Employee is treated as finalized. Only admins can make changes. |
| Chain added where none existed | Employee goes to the first planner in the new chain. |
| All planners in new chain already submitted | Employee stays finalized. |



## How approval chains connect to other features

| Feature | How it uses approval chains |
|----|----|
| **Planning windows** | Windows are generated based on chain depth. Each approval level gets its own window. If you change chains significantly, consider regenerating windows. |
| **Budgets (top-down)** | The planner hierarchy for budget allocation is built from approval chains. Budget amounts roll up through the chain structure. |
| **Worksheet visibility** | Planners only see employees currently assigned to their worksheet. As employees move through the chain, they appear in the next planner's worksheet. |
| **Employee eligibility** | Changing eligibility does not modify approval chains. Hidden employees are excluded from chains entirely. Ineligible employees have no active chain. |
| **Reward letters** | Reward letter sharing only becomes available after an employee reaches the final planner and is finalized. |
| **Cycle progress** | Cycle Insights tracks how many employees are at each approval status, giving you visibility into where the cycle stands across the organization. |



## Things to know

* **Finalized cycles.** Approval chains cannot be uploaded or modified after a cycle is finalized.
* **No duplicate planners.** A planner cannot appear more than once in the same employee's chain.
* **Upload is additive.** CSV uploads only affect employees listed in the file. Omitted employees keep their existing chains.
* **Regeneration is irreversible.** Regenerating chains resets all manual edits. Use this only when you want to start fresh from HRIS data.




Approval chains

Configurations overview

Cycle access permissions

Overview

Employee eligibility

Planning windows

Budgets

Recommendation logic

Adding non-integration data to your cycle

Reward letters

Cycle Setup

Columns

OTE planning

Writing formulas with Handlebars

Hourly and monthly pay

Columns and Formulas

Using the planner worksheet

Using the employee detail view

Cycle Progress dashboard

Budgets dashboard

Cycle Outcomes dashboard

Worksheet Experience

Overview of smart features in compensation planning

Peer Comparison

Smart Flags

Priority Sort

Compensation Outliers

Manager Compression Flag

Vesting Drop Flag

Flags and Insights

Compensation Planning

Market Data Connections Overview

Market Data Connections Set up

Integrations 101

Integrations

Team View Overview

Team View Column Configuration

Team View Customizations

Re-ordering Columns

Deleting Columns

Adding Columns

Team View Settings

Team View

How much does Pave Market Data access cost?

How does Pave Work?

Intro to Pave

Contact Us

Pave 101

Total Compensation

Compensation 101

ISO Tax Implications

The Basics of Stock Options

The Confusing AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax)

ISO Strategies

An Overview of How Stock Options Work

The Stock Option Lifecycle

Equity 101

Login Troubleshooting and FAQ

How does company size affect which department, job family and job level I should choose?

How does Pave determine a role level and role family?

Troubleshooting Rippling Zero Records Error

What Market Data Connections does Pave currently support?

Account Creation Troubleshooting and FAQs

How to Benchmark Executive Compensation

FAQs

Creating an Account

How to add a colleague to Pave’s Market Data Platform

Market Data Role Management

Why does it matter to get levels and role families right?

SSO Configuration Guide

Logging In

Custom Role Creation Guide

Account Setup

Getting Started

Grades

Setting up Company Job Architecture

Company Job Architecture

Job Architecture 101

Pay Zone Manager

Step 1: Build Foundation

Generate Bands from Market Data

Editing Bands

Calculated Columns

Bands Set Audit Log

Bulk & Manually Associate Market Data to Bands

Employee Distribution in Bands

How to duplicate band sets

Managing & Reordering Calculated Columns

Unmatched Employees

View changes

Pay Types: Calculated TDC, Annual Equity, and Refresh Equity

Manually Create New Band Sets

Band Sets

Upload/Download Bands

Step 3: Update Ranges

Advanced Filters

Compare Bands

Generate Bands for New Jobs in Your Job Architecture

Relative Permissions

Ongoing Management & Analysis

Edit and apply benchmarks

Set weights and logic

Map data sources to jobs

Supported survey providers

Manage Pave data sources

Manage survey data sources

Benchmarks overview

Survey aging

Step 2: Benchmarking

Market Pricing

Notifications

Multirole Permissions

Standard Pave Permissions

Role Management

Impersonation as a Pave Admin

Auto-manager Assignment

Admin Notification Dashboard

General

How do I know if I’m impersonating someone else?

Can I act on another’s behalf while impersonating them?

Who is able to impersonate?

Who can I impersonate?

How do I impersonate a user?

What is Impersonation?

How can I view Pave as another role?

How do I add multiple users to a role at once?

How can I change the permission settings for a role?

How can I create a new role?

Can a user have more than one role at a time?

Am I able to change another user’s permissions or login credentials while impersonating?

Can I impersonate another user in one page while having other Pave tabs open?

Permissions & Settings FAQs

Account & Permissions

How to Search for a Benchmark

Pave Data and Methodology Guide

Market Data 101

Job Families

Calculated Benchmarks

Compensation Types

Data Collection and Aggregation

Percentiles

Filters

Consistency Labels

Pave's Data

Calculated Benchmarks FAQ

Location and Global Data FAQs

Equity Practices FAQs

Consistency Labels FAQ

Market Data FAQs

Job Levels

Global Location Insights

Advanced Equity

Market Data Pro

Market Data

Understanding Equity in Total Rewards

Display Original Grant Value

Compensation Simulator Configurations

Compensation Simulator Overview

Learning Hub Configuration

Learning Hub Overview

Reward Letters

Accessing your Total Rewards portal

Total Rewards 101

Visual Offer Letters with Workday

Visual Offer Letters with Greenhouse

Visual Offer Letters with Lever

Visual Offer Letter as a Candidate

Previewing Visual Offer Letters

Visual Offer Letters with Ashby

Creating and sending Visual Offer Letters in Pave

Visual Offer Letter 101

Why is my equity different in the equity tab on the left hand side compared to the equity valuation on the graphs?

Why can't I view my own Total Rewards portal?

Total Rewards and Visual Offer Letter FAQ

How can I complete our Greenhouse connection if "API credential management" is not in my Greenhouse menu?

Approval chains

Share

Share

Approval chains

Share

Share