> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://faqs.xoxoday.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Can Employees Outside the HR System Access Empuls?
> Yes. Empuls onboards non-HR-system users via CSV upload or enterprise integrations, giving contractors and freelancers full access to recognition.
Empuls allows any employee — including contractors, freelancers, and non-payroll staff — to be onboarded and participate in recognition and rewards programs through CSV file uploads or integrations with enterprise work systems.
The modern workforce extends well beyond the employees listed in a company's primary HR system. Contract workers, freelancers, project-based consultants, and seasonal staff are increasingly central to how organizations operate. Excluding them from recognition programs creates a two-tier culture that quietly signals their contributions matter less — and that undermines engagement for everyone.
**Flexible Onboarding Beyond the HRMS**
Empuls supports two primary methods for adding users who do not exist in a core HR system such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Darwinbox.
The first is a CSV file upload. HR and People Operations teams can bulk-import employee records directly into Empuls without requiring a live system integration. This is especially practical for onboarding project-based hires, interns, or seasonal workers on a one-time or periodic basis, with no dependency on IT or a system administrator.
The second method is integration with alternative enterprise tools. If a contractor is already provisioned in your company's Slack workspace, Microsoft Teams tenant, or an Azure Active Directory instance, Empuls can draw that identity into the platform without needing a parallel HRMS record. This eliminates duplicate data entry and keeps onboarding fast.
**A Real-World Example**
Consider a technology firm running a six-month product sprint with twenty embedded consultants. At the start of the engagement, the HR team uploads a single CSV containing those consultants' details into Empuls. From that point, the consultants can send and receive peer recognition, earn reward points, and join milestone celebrations alongside permanent employees — without ever appearing in Workday or SAP SuccessFactors.
When the engagement ends, the same admin console used to onboard them handles offboarding in bulk.
**Security Is Consistent Regardless of Onboarding Method**
Empuls is certified to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II standards. Data for CSV-onboarded users is protected by the same security controls as data synced from a primary HRMS. There is no difference in access rights, data residency, or audit logging between the two paths.
**Managing the User Lifecycle**
Once onboarded, non-HRMS users are managed through Empuls's admin console. HR teams can update records, adjust roles, and offboard users individually or in bulk. For organizations that connect a primary HRMS at a later stage, CSV-uploaded records can be reconciled with incoming integration data so there is no duplication or data loss.
This flexibility means workforce changes — new project teams, contractor surges, or restructured engagements — never stall a recognition program or require a workaround.
**Learn more:** [Empuls Help Centre — User management](https://help-empuls.xoxoday.com/admin/user-management/manage-employees)
Step-by-step guide to importing employee records into Empuls using a CSV file, including field mapping and common error fixes.
Connect Empuls to Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Darwinbox, and other HR systems to automate user provisioning and lifecycle management.