diff --git a/rattail/app.py b/rattail/app.py
index 91cd863a190ea58d253ae28bdbdc6d44eddbccb8..ce4c42699ed41d69f529e8ecda39b3ef0b3ac05a 100644
--- a/rattail/app.py
+++ b/rattail/app.py
@@ -244,6 +244,24 @@ class AppHandler(object):
         if setting:
             session.delete(setting)
 
+    def touch_object(self, session, obj):
+        """
+        Mark the given object as having been changed, such that the
+        datasync will pick it up and propagate the object to other
+        nodes.
+
+        Note that this is *minimal* logic; only the given object will
+        be "touched" in this way, i.e. no related records will be
+        touched.  So if those also need it, you must call this method
+        for each related object separately.
+        """
+        model = self.model
+        change = model.Change()
+        change.class_name = obj.__class__.__name__
+        change.instance_uuid = obj.uuid
+        change = session.merge(change)
+        change.deleted = False
+
     def get_active_stores(self, session, **kwargs):
         """
         Returns the list of "active" stores.  A store is considered
diff --git a/rattail/employment.py b/rattail/employment.py
index d52b618bddcc38168ab7bb9eb022186aa3ffa91f..11381cbc16b880182430cded8e5911cad7c907a5 100644
--- a/rattail/employment.py
+++ b/rattail/employment.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
-#  Copyright © 2010-2021 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2010-2022 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Rattail.
 #
@@ -37,6 +37,22 @@ class EmploymentHandler(GenericHandler):
     Base class and default implementation for employment handlers.
     """
 
+    def touch_employee(self, session, employee):
+        self.app.touch_object(session, employee)
+        self.app.touch_object(session, employee.person)
+
+        for email in employee.emails:
+            self.app.touch_object(session, email)
+
+        for phone in employee.phones:
+            self.app.touch_object(session, phone)
+
+        for store in employee._stores:
+            self.app.touch_object(session, store)
+
+        for department in employee._departments:
+            self.app.touch_object(session, department)
+
     def begin_employment(self, person, start_date, **kwargs):
         """
         Begin employment for the given person.