diff --git a/admin/auth-admin.php b/admin/auth-admin.php
index b650c000..034a2c85 100644
--- a/admin/auth-admin.php
+++ b/admin/auth-admin.php
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ $sql = "SELECT stg_value
 
 session_name($db->GetOne($sql));
 
-session_start();
+if ((defined('PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE') && session_status() !== PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE) || !session_id()) { 
+ session_start();
+}
 
 //check if the session exists or loginID not set
 if (session_id() == "" || !isset($_SESSION['loginID']))
diff --git a/admin/index.php b/admin/index.php
index d80bf66c..2dbf70f2 100644
--- a/admin/index.php
+++ b/admin/index.php
@@ -84,12 +84,17 @@ include ("../functions/functions.operator.php");
 	  </div >
 
 	    <ul class="nav navbar-nav pull-right">
-          <li class="dropdown pull-right user-data">            
+          <li class=" ">
+            <a href="../index.php" class=" "  target="_blanc" style="padding-top: 20px; ">
+              <i class="fa fa-sign-in fa-lg fa-fw "></i><?php print T_("Operator panel");?>           
+            </a>
+          </li>			
+		  <li class="dropdown pull-right user-data">            
             <a href="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown"  style=" min-width: 160px;">
-              <i class="fa fa-user fa fa-fw "></i><?php print T_("Logged as:") . "&ensp;" . $username ;?>           
+              <i class="fa fa-user fa-fw "></i><?php print T_("Logged as:") . "&ensp;" . $username ;?>           
             </a>
 			<!--- User menu // not connected to pages so not working yet //  could be hidden -->
-       <ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
+			<ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
               <li><a href="?g=5&amp;page=operatorlist.php?edit=<?php print get_operator_id(); ?>"><i class="fa fa-cogs fa-fw "></i>&ensp;<?php print T_("Settings"); ?></a></li>
 <!---			  <li><a href="../screenloc.php"><i class="fa fa-lock fa-fw "></i>&ensp;<?php print T_("Lock Screen"); ?></a></li> -->
               <li><a href="../include/limesurvey/admin/admin.php?action=logout"><i class="fa fa-sign-out fa-fw "></i>&ensp;<?php print T_("Logout"); ?> </a></li>
diff --git a/auth-interviewer.php b/auth-interviewer.php
index ee9704b2..f634e09d 100644
--- a/auth-interviewer.php
+++ b/auth-interviewer.php
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ $sql = "SELECT stg_value
 
 session_name($db->GetOne($sql));
 
-session_start();
+if ((defined('PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE') && session_status() !== PHP_SESSION_ACTIVE) || !session_id()) { 
+ session_start();
+}
 
 //check if the session exists or loginID not set
 if (session_id() == "" || !isset($_SESSION['loginID']))