# Team Roles and Permissions Explained

> How Admin, Manager, Employee, and Worker roles control what each person on your team can see and do.

Source: https://www.liftedwork.com/how-tos/roles-permissions
Published: 2026-02-01
Updated: 2026-09-15

## Roles Overview

Lifted Work has four built-in roles, each with different access levels:

- **Admin** -- Full access to everything: all clients, tasks, billing, settings, team management, and the AI sidebar. Can invite and remove team members and manage the agency.
- **Manager** -- Can view and manage tasks, clients, and team members within their scope. Has access to the AI sidebar, reporting, and can invite new team members. Cannot manage billing.
- **Employee** -- Focuses on task execution. Sees assigned tasks and client work. No access to the AI sidebar, billing, or team management.
- **Worker** -- External contractor or fulfillment role. Sees only assigned tasks. No access to client details, billing, or agency settings.

## Key Permission Differences

| Feature | Admin | Manager | Employee | Worker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Sidebar (Lifty)** | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| **Billing & Invoices** | Yes | No | No | No |
| **Invite Team Members** | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| **Agency Settings** | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| **Client Portal Preview** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| **Task Creation** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| **Task Assignment** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |

## Inviting Team Members

- Go to **Team** from the main navigation
- Click **Invite**
- Enter their email and select a role
- They'll receive an onboarding email with login instructions

## Choosing the Right Role

Use **Admin** sparingly -- typically agency owners and operations leads. **Manager** works well for account managers and project leads who need [AI sidebar](https://www.liftedwork.com/how-tos/lifty-ai-sidebar) access and client oversight. **Employee** fits in-house team members doing hands-on work. **Worker** is built for external contractors who only need to see and complete their assigned tasks.

## Frequently asked questions

### What role should an agency account manager have?

Manager usually fits an account manager who needs client oversight, task management, reporting, team invitations, and Lifty access but should not manage billing. Use Admin only when the person also needs full agency settings and financial access.

### What is the best role for an external contractor?

Worker is intended for contractors or fulfillment partners who should see only their assigned tasks. Use Employee when the person is part of the internal delivery team and needs broader access to client work.

### How many agency users should be Admins?

Keep the number small and give Admin only to owners or operations leads who need billing, settings, and full account control. Review roles when responsibilities change rather than leaving elevated access in place indefinitely.