diff --git a/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php b/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
index b050c21d7..ed26dfa38 100755
--- a/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
@@ -445,18 +445,16 @@ class Derivation
    * @param   string   $USR_UID
    * @return  string   $aRow['USR_REPORTS_TO']
    */
-    function getDenpendentUser ($USR_UID)
-    {
-        //require_once 'classes/model/Users.php';
-        //here the uid to next Users
+    function getDenpendentUser($USR_UID) {
+        //Here the uid to next user
         $oC = new Criteria();
-        $oC->addSelectColumn( UsersPeer::USR_REPORTS_TO );
-        $oC->add( UsersPeer::USR_UID, $USR_UID );
-        $oDataset = UsersPeer::doSelectRS( $oC );
-        $oDataset->setFetchmode( ResultSet::FETCHMODE_ASSOC );
+        $oC->addSelectColumn(UsersPeer::USR_REPORTS_TO);
+        $oC->add(UsersPeer::USR_UID, $USR_UID);
+        $oDataset = UsersPeer::doSelectRS($oC);
+        $oDataset->setFetchmode(ResultSet::FETCHMODE_ASSOC);
         $oDataset->next();
         $aRow = $oDataset->getRow();
-        return $aRow['USR_REPORTS_TO'];
+        return $aRow['USR_REPORTS_TO'] != '' ? $aRow['USR_REPORTS_TO'] : $USR_UID;
     }
 
     /* setTasLastAssigned