diff --git a/tailbone/views/employees.py b/tailbone/views/employees.py
index fcc63ad4..488e1f65 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/employees.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/employees.py
@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ class EmployeesView(MasterView):
         return employee
 
     def update_stores(self, employee, data):
+        if 'stores' not in data:
+            return
         old_stores = set([s.uuid for s in employee.stores])
         new_stores = data['stores']
         for uuid in new_stores:
@@ -222,6 +224,8 @@ class EmployeesView(MasterView):
                 employee.stores.remove(store)
 
     def update_departments(self, employee, data):
+        if 'departments' not in data:
+            return
         old_depts = set([d.uuid for d in employee.departments])
         new_depts = data['departments']
         for uuid in new_depts: