diff --git a/workflow/engine/classes/model/Department.php b/workflow/engine/classes/model/Department.php
index f06cb293a..3e261cbb4 100644
--- a/workflow/engine/classes/model/Department.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/classes/model/Department.php
@@ -415,9 +415,9 @@ function getDepartments( $DepParent )  {
         $manager = $oDepartment->getDepManager();
         if ($manager != ''){
           $UserUID = $RBAC->load($manager);
-          $node['DEP_MANAGER_USERNAME'] = $UserUID['USR_USERNAME'];
-          $node['DEP_MANAGER_FIRSTNAME'] = $UserUID['USR_FIRSTNAME'];
-          $node['DEP_MANAGER_LASTNAME'] = $UserUID['USR_LASTNAME'];
+          $node['DEP_MANAGER_USERNAME'] = isset($UserUID['USR_USERNAME'])?$UserUID['USR_USERNAME']:'';
+          $node['DEP_MANAGER_FIRSTNAME'] = isset($UserUID['USR_FIRSTNAME'])?$UserUID['USR_FIRSTNAME']:'';
+          $node['DEP_MANAGER_LASTNAME'] = isset($UserUID['USR_LASTNAME'])?$UserUID['USR_FIRSTNAME']:'';
         }else{
           $node['DEP_MANAGER_USERNAME'] = '';	
           $node['DEP_MANAGER_FIRSTNAME'] = '';
diff --git a/workflow/engine/classes/model/Users.php b/workflow/engine/classes/model/Users.php
index d657c56ad..5f231a6f8 100644
--- a/workflow/engine/classes/model/Users.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/classes/model/Users.php
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ public function userExists($UsrUid)
         throw(new Exception( "The row '" . $UsrUid . "' in table USER doesn't exist!" ));
       }
     }
+    catch (PropelException $e){  //capture invalid birthday date and replace by null
+    	$msg = $e->getMessage();
+    	if (strpos('Unable to parse value of [usr_birthday]', $msg) != -1) {
+    		$oRow->setUsrBirthday(null);
+    		$oRow->save();
+    		return $this->load($UsrUid);
+    	}
+    }
     catch (Exception $oError) {
       throw($oError);
     }
diff --git a/workflow/engine/methods/departments/departments_Ajax.php b/workflow/engine/methods/departments/departments_Ajax.php
index 86587e266..2196b2113 100644
--- a/workflow/engine/methods/departments/departments_Ajax.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/methods/departments/departments_Ajax.php
@@ -245,7 +245,6 @@ switch ($_POST['action'])
   case 'updateDepartment':
   	try{
   	  $dep_name = $_REQUEST['name'];
-  	  echo $dep_name;
   	  $dep_uid = $_REQUEST['uid'];
   	  $dep_manager = $_REQUEST['manager'];
   	  $dep_status = $_REQUEST['status'];