diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9592a83e..ba374815 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -76,3 +76,6 @@ secrets.yml
 *_secrets
 credentials.json
 scripts/site_imports/wjf/idmap.json
+
+# work-PC publication clone: bundle drop folder for the transfer pipeline
+_transfer/
diff --git a/plugins/printedparts/services/badges.py b/plugins/printedparts/services/badges.py
index 81c7f430..13ea6462 100644
--- a/plugins/printedparts/services/badges.py
+++ b/plugins/printedparts/services/badges.py
@@ -8,18 +8,25 @@ cross-plugin imports break the shopdb.api-only contract):
                            scanners emit this shape)
 - anything else         -> unresolvable
 
-Names come from the employees plugin's self-hosted directory, looked up by
-SSO. The directory carries no PayNo column, so PayNo badges resolve only when
-the wrapped digits are themselves the SSO (true at sites whose badges encode
-the SSO); otherwise they fall to the unknown-badge policy.
+Name lookup honors the site's employee directory mode (the same setting the
+employees/usb plugins use):
+
+- selfhosted: the employees plugin's directoryemployees table, by SSO. The
+  table has no PayNo column, so a PayNo badge only resolves when the wrapped
+  digits are themselves the SSO.
+- external: the HR directory via employee_connection() - SSO badges by SSO,
+  PayNo badges by PayNo (which also recovers the real SSO to record).
 
 Policy (Setting printedparts_unknown_badge): 'deny' (default) rejects a badge
 with no directory match; 'allow' records the SSO with an empty name.
 """
 
+import logging
 import re
 
-from shopdb.api import Setting
+from shopdb.api import Setting, employee_connection
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _PAYNO_BADGE = re.compile(r'^0(\d+)BZ$', re.IGNORECASE)
 
@@ -28,17 +35,59 @@ class BadgeError(ValueError):
     """Raised when a badge cannot be accepted under the site policy."""
 
 
-def _directory_name(sso):
-    """Best-effort display name from the employees plugin directory."""
+def _parse_badge(badge):
+    """Return ('sso'|'payno', digits) or raise BadgeError on unknown shape."""
+    badge = (badge or '').strip()
+    if not badge:
+        raise BadgeError('Scan or enter a badge')
+    if badge.isdigit():
+        return 'sso', badge
+    match = _PAYNO_BADGE.match(badge)
+    if match:
+        return 'payno', match.group(1)
+    raise BadgeError('Unrecognized badge format')
+
+
+def _selfhosted_lookup(digits):
+    """(sso, name) from the employees plugin directory, or None."""
     try:
         from plugins.employees.models import DirectoryEmployee
         from shopdb.api import db
-        if sso and str(sso).isdigit():
-            employee = db.session.get(DirectoryEmployee, int(sso))
-            if employee:
-                return f'{employee.firstname} {employee.lastname}'.strip()
+        employee = db.session.get(DirectoryEmployee, int(digits))
+        if employee:
+            return digits, f'{employee.firstname} {employee.lastname}'.strip()
     except Exception:
-        pass
+        logger.exception('Self-hosted directory lookup failed for %s', digits)
+    return None
+
+
+def _external_lookup(kind, digits):
+    """(sso, name) from the HR directory, or None. PayNo badges resolve to
+    the employee's real SSO."""
+    try:
+        conn = employee_connection()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception('HR directory connection failed')
+        return None
+    try:
+        with conn.cursor() as cursor:
+            column = 'SSO' if kind == 'sso' else 'PayNo'
+            cursor.execute(
+                f'SELECT SSO, First_Name, Last_Name FROM employees '
+                f'WHERE {column} = %s', (digits,))
+            row = cursor.fetchone()
+        if row:
+            sso = str(row[0] if not isinstance(row, dict) else row['SSO'])
+            first = row[1] if not isinstance(row, dict) else row['First_Name']
+            last = row[2] if not isinstance(row, dict) else row['Last_Name']
+            return sso, f'{(first or "").strip()} {(last or "").strip()}'.strip()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception('HR directory lookup failed for %s %s', kind, digits)
+    finally:
+        try:
+            conn.close()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
     return None
 
 
@@ -48,22 +97,17 @@ def resolve_badge(badge):
     Raises BadgeError with a kiosk-displayable message when the badge shape is
     unrecognized or the policy denies an unmatched badge.
     """
-    badge = (badge or '').strip()
-    if not badge:
-        raise BadgeError('Scan or enter a badge')
+    kind, digits = _parse_badge(badge)
 
-    if badge.isdigit():
-        sso = badge
+    mode = (Setting.get('employee_directory_mode') or 'selfhosted').lower()
+    if mode == 'external':
+        resolved = _external_lookup(kind, digits)
     else:
-        match = _PAYNO_BADGE.match(badge)
-        if not match:
-            raise BadgeError('Unrecognized badge format')
-        sso = match.group(1)
+        resolved = _selfhosted_lookup(digits)
 
-    name = _directory_name(sso)
-    if name is None:
+    if resolved is None:
         policy = (Setting.get('printedparts_unknown_badge') or 'deny').lower()
         if policy != 'allow':
             raise BadgeError('Badge not recognized - see the parts team')
-        return sso, ''
-    return sso, name
+        return digits, ''
+    return resolved