diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py b/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
index 7152d4aea..badb05700 100755
--- a/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ class Globals(object):
             'cassandra_seeds',
             'admins',
             'sponsors',
+            'employees',
             'automatic_reddits',
             'allowed_css_linked_domains',
             'authorized_cnames',
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/account.py b/r2/r2/models/account.py
index 05bcc3b70..1ea6ae14c 100644
--- a/r2/r2/models/account.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/account.py
@@ -630,6 +630,17 @@ class Account(Thing):
         '''
         return setattr(self, 'received_trophy_%s' % uid, trophy_id)
 
+    @property
+    def employee(self):
+        """Return if the user is an employee.
+
+        Being an employee grants them various special privileges.
+
+        """
+        return (self.name in g.admins or
+                self.name in g.sponsors or
+                self.name in g.employees)
+
 class FakeAccount(Account):
     _nodb = True
     pref_no_profanity = True