diff --git a/frontend/src/app/_components/Shell.tsx b/frontend/src/app/_components/Shell.tsx
index 68d875e..f0ad53f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/_components/Shell.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/_components/Shell.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { usePathname } from "next/navigation";
-import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { useState } from "react";
 import styles from "./Shell.module.css";
 
 const NAV = [
@@ -15,16 +15,14 @@ const NAV = [
 
 export function Shell({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const path = usePathname();
-  const [actorId, setActorId] = useState("");
-
-  useEffect(() => {
+  const [actorId, setActorId] = useState(() => {
+    if (typeof window === "undefined") return "";
     try {
-      const stored = window.localStorage.getItem("actor_employee_id");
-      if (stored) setActorId(stored);
+      return window.localStorage.getItem("actor_employee_id") ?? "";
     } catch {
-      // ignore
+      return "";
     }
-  }, []);
+  });
   return (
     <div className={styles.shell}>
       <aside className={styles.sidebar}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
index 3ba5a6d..75ba167 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { useState } from "react";
 
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeDepartments, normalizeEmployees } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 import {
@@ -19,8 +20,11 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
   const [headId, setHeadId] = useState<string>("");
 
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
+  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
 
+  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+
   const createDepartment = useCreateDepartmentDepartmentsPost({
     mutation: {
       onSuccess: () => {
@@ -37,9 +41,7 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
     },
   });
 
-  const sortedEmployees = useMemo(() => {
-    return (employees.data ?? []).slice().sort((a, b) => (a.name ?? "").localeCompare(b.name ?? ""));
-  }, [employees.data]);
+  const sortedEmployees = employeeList.slice().sort((a, b) => (a.name ?? "").localeCompare(b.name ?? ""));
 
   return (
     <main className="mx-auto max-w-5xl p-6">
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>All departments</CardTitle>
-            <CardDescription>{(departments.data ?? []).length} total</CardDescription>
+            <CardDescription>{departmentList.length} total</CardDescription>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             {departments.isLoading ? <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</div> : null}
@@ -100,7 +102,7 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
             ) : null}
             {!departments.isLoading && !departments.error ? (
               <ul className="space-y-2">
-                {(departments.data ?? []).map((d) => (
+                {departmentList.map((d) => (
                   <li key={d.id ?? d.name} className="rounded-md border p-3">
                     <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
                       <div className="font-medium">{d.name}</div>
@@ -127,7 +129,7 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
                     </div>
                   </li>
                 ))}
-                {(departments.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+                {departmentList.length === 0 ? (
                   <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No departments yet.</li>
                 ) : null}
               </ul>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
index 8c7a57c..2e49f51 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useState } from "react";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeAgentOnboardings, normalizeDepartments, normalizeEmployees, normalizeEmploymentActions, normalizeHeadcountRequests } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
@@ -21,11 +22,16 @@ import { useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet, useListEmployeesEmployeesGet } from "
 
 export default function HRPage() {
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
+  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
+  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
 
   const headcount = useListHeadcountRequestsHrHeadcountGet();
   const actions = useListEmploymentActionsHrActionsGet();
   const onboarding = useListAgentOnboardingHrOnboardingGet();
+  const headcountList = normalizeHeadcountRequests(headcount.data);
+  const actionList = normalizeEmploymentActions(actions.data);
+  const onboardingList = normalizeAgentOnboardings(onboarding.data);
 
   const [hcDeptId, setHcDeptId] = useState<string>("");
   const [hcManagerId, setHcManagerId] = useState<string>("");
@@ -88,14 +94,6 @@ export default function HRPage() {
     },
   });
 
-    mutation: {
-      onSuccess: () => {
-        setActNotes("");
-        actions.refetch();
-      },
-    },
-  });
-
   return (
     <main className="mx-auto max-w-5xl p-6">
       <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
@@ -117,13 +115,13 @@ export default function HRPage() {
           <CardContent className="space-y-3">
             <Select value={hcDeptId} onChange={(e) => setHcDeptId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">Select department</option>
-              {(departments.data ?? []).map((d) => (
+              {departmentList.map((d) => (
                 <option key={d.id ?? d.name} value={d.id ?? ""}>{d.name}</option>
               ))}
             </Select>
             <Select value={hcManagerId} onChange={(e) => setHcManagerId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">Requesting manager</option>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.map((e) => (
                 <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
               ))}
             </Select>
@@ -167,13 +165,13 @@ export default function HRPage() {
           <CardContent className="space-y-3">
             <Select value={actEmployeeId} onChange={(e) => setActEmployeeId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">Employee</option>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.map((e) => (
                 <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
               ))}
             </Select>
             <Select value={actIssuerId} onChange={(e) => setActIssuerId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">Issued by</option>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.map((e) => (
                 <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
               ))}
             </Select>
@@ -214,13 +212,13 @@ export default function HRPage() {
             <div>
               <div className="mb-2 text-sm font-medium">Headcount requests</div>
               <ul className="space-y-2">
-                {(headcount.data ?? []).slice(0, 10).map((r) => (
+                {headcountList.slice(0, 10).map((r) => (
                   <li key={String(r.id)} className="rounded-md border p-3 text-sm">
                     <div className="font-medium">{r.role_title} × {r.quantity} ({r.employee_type})</div>
                     <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">dept #{r.department_id} · status: {r.status}</div>
                   </li>
                 ))}
-                {(headcount.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+                {headcountList.length === 0 ? (
                   <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">None yet.</li>
                 ) : null}
               </ul>
@@ -228,13 +226,13 @@ export default function HRPage() {
             <div>
               <div className="mb-2 text-sm font-medium">Employment actions</div>
               <ul className="space-y-2">
-                {(actions.data ?? []).slice(0, 10).map((a) => (
+                {actionList.slice(0, 10).map((a) => (
                   <li key={String(a.id)} className="rounded-md border p-3 text-sm">
                     <div className="font-medium">{a.action_type} → employee #{a.employee_id}</div>
                     <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">issued by #{a.issued_by_employee_id}</div>
                   </li>
                 ))}
-                {(actions.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+                {actionList.length === 0 ? (
                   <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">None yet.</li>
                 ) : null}
               </ul>
@@ -258,7 +256,7 @@ export default function HRPage() {
               <Textarea placeholder="Tools/permissions (JSON or text)" value={onboardTools} onChange={(e) => setOnboardTools(e.target.value)} />
               <Select value={onboardOwnerId} onChange={(e) => setOnboardOwnerId(e.target.value)}>
                 <option value="">Owner (HR)</option>
-                {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+                {employeeList.map((e) => (
                   <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
                 ))}
               </Select>
@@ -286,7 +284,7 @@ export default function HRPage() {
             <div>
               <div className="mb-2 text-sm font-medium">Current onboardings</div>
               <ul className="space-y-2">
-                {(onboarding.data ?? []).map((o) => (
+                {onboardingList.map((o) => (
                   <li key={String(o.id)} className="rounded-md border p-3 text-sm">
                     <div className="font-medium">{o.agent_name} · {o.role_title}</div>
                     <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">status: {o.status} · cron: {o.cron_interval_ms ?? "—"}</div>
@@ -327,7 +325,7 @@ export default function HRPage() {
                     </div>
                   </li>
                 ))}
-                {(onboarding.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+                {onboardingList.length === 0 ? (
                   <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No onboarding records yet.</li>
                 ) : null}
               </ul>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
index 1eb3c4d..1766ba2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import styles from "@/app/_components/Shell.module.css";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeActivities, normalizeDepartments, normalizeEmployees, normalizeProjects } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 import { useCreateProjectProjectsPost, useListProjectsProjectsGet } from "@/api/generated/projects/projects";
@@ -15,9 +16,13 @@ import { useListActivitiesActivitiesGet } from "@/api/generated/activities/activ
 
 export default function Home() {
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
+  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
+  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
   const activities = useListActivitiesActivitiesGet({ limit: 20 });
+  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const activityList = normalizeActivities(activities.data);
 
   const [projectName, setProjectName] = useState("");
   const [deptName, setDeptName] = useState("");
@@ -81,13 +86,13 @@ export default function Home() {
         <div className={styles.card}>
           <div className={styles.cardTitle}>Live activity</div>
           <div className={styles.list}>
-            {(activities.data ?? []).map((a) => (
+            {activityList.map((a) => (
               <div key={String(a.id)} className={styles.item}>
                 <div style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{a.entity_type} · {a.verb}</div>
                 <div className={styles.mono}>id {a.entity_id ?? "—"}</div>
               </div>
             ))}
-            {(activities.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+            {activityList.length === 0 ? (
               <div className={styles.mono}>No activity yet.</div>
             ) : null}
           </div>
@@ -98,17 +103,17 @@ export default function Home() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>Projects</CardTitle>
-            <CardDescription>{(projects.data ?? []).length} total</CardDescription>
+            <CardDescription>{projectList.length} total</CardDescription>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             <div className={styles.list}>
-              {(projects.data ?? []).slice(0, 8).map((p) => (
+              {projectList.slice(0, 8).map((p) => (
                 <div key={p.id ?? p.name} className={styles.item}>
                   <div style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{p.name}</div>
                   <div className={styles.mono}>{p.status}</div>
                 </div>
               ))}
-              {(projects.data ?? []).length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No projects yet.</div> : null}
+              {projectList.length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No projects yet.</div> : null}
             </div>
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
@@ -116,17 +121,17 @@ export default function Home() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>Departments</CardTitle>
-            <CardDescription>{(departments.data ?? []).length} total</CardDescription>
+            <CardDescription>{departmentList.length} total</CardDescription>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             <div className={styles.list}>
-              {(departments.data ?? []).slice(0, 8).map((d) => (
+              {departmentList.slice(0, 8).map((d) => (
                 <div key={d.id ?? d.name} className={styles.item}>
                   <div style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{d.name}</div>
                   <div className={styles.mono}>id {d.id}</div>
                 </div>
               ))}
-              {(departments.data ?? []).length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No departments yet.</div> : null}
+              {departmentList.length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No departments yet.</div> : null}
             </div>
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
@@ -134,17 +139,17 @@ export default function Home() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>People</CardTitle>
-            <CardDescription>{(employees.data ?? []).length} total</CardDescription>
+            <CardDescription>{employeeList.length} total</CardDescription>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             <div className={styles.list}>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).slice(0, 8).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.slice(0, 8).map((e) => (
                 <div key={e.id ?? e.name} className={styles.item}>
                   <div style={{ fontWeight: 600 }}>{e.name}</div>
                   <div className={styles.mono}>{e.employee_type}</div>
                 </div>
               ))}
-              {(employees.data ?? []).length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No people yet.</div> : null}
+              {employeeList.length === 0 ? <div className={styles.mono}>No people yet.</div> : null}
             </div>
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
index 22abc14..10cb1d2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeDepartments, normalizeEmployees } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 import {
@@ -23,6 +24,8 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
 
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
+  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
+  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
 
   const createEmployee = useCreateEmployeeEmployeesPost({
     mutation: {
@@ -38,19 +41,19 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
 
   const deptNameById = useMemo(() => {
     const m = new Map<number, string>();
-    for (const d of departments.data ?? []) {
+    for (const d of departmentList) {
       if (d.id != null) m.set(d.id, d.name);
     }
     return m;
-  }, [departments.data]);
+  }, [departmentList]);
 
   const empNameById = useMemo(() => {
     const m = new Map<number, string>();
-    for (const e of employees.data ?? []) {
+    for (const e of employeeList) {
       if (e.id != null) m.set(e.id, e.name);
     }
     return m;
-  }, [employees.data]);
+  }, [employeeList]);
 
   return (
     <main className="mx-auto max-w-5xl p-6">
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
             <Input placeholder="Title (optional)" value={title} onChange={(e) => setTitle(e.target.value)} />
             <Select value={departmentId} onChange={(e) => setDepartmentId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">(no department)</option>
-              {(departments.data ?? []).map((d) => (
+              {departmentList.map((d) => (
                 <option key={d.id ?? d.name} value={d.id ?? ""}>
                   {d.name}
                 </option>
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
             </Select>
             <Select value={managerId} onChange={(e) => setManagerId(e.target.value)}>
               <option value="">(no manager)</option>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.map((e) => (
                 <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>
                   {e.name}
                 </option>
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>Directory</CardTitle>
-            <CardDescription>{(employees.data ?? []).length} total</CardDescription>
+            <CardDescription>{employeeList.length} total</CardDescription>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             {employees.isLoading ? <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</div> : null}
@@ -128,7 +131,7 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
             ) : null}
             {!employees.isLoading && !employees.error ? (
               <ul className="space-y-2">
-                {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+                {employeeList.map((e) => (
                   <li key={e.id ?? e.name} className="rounded-md border p-3">
                     <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
                       <div className="font-medium">{e.name}</div>
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
                     </div>
                   </li>
                 ))}
-                {(employees.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+                {employeeList.length === 0 ? (
                   <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No people yet.</li>
                 ) : null}
               </ul>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
index 6845cfe..723c78f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useParams } from "next/navigation";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeEmployees, normalizeProjectMembers, normalizeProjects, normalizeTaskComments, normalizeTasks } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
@@ -33,11 +34,14 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
   const projectId = Number(params?.id);
 
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
-  const project = (projects.data ?? []).find((p) => p.id === projectId);
+  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
+  const project = projectList.find((p) => p.id === projectId);
 
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
+  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
 
   const members = useListProjectMembersProjectsProjectIdMembersGet(projectId);
+  const memberList = normalizeProjectMembers(members.data);
   const addMember = useAddProjectMemberProjectsProjectIdMembersPost({
     mutation: { onSuccess: () => members.refetch() },
   });
@@ -48,7 +52,8 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
     mutation: { onSuccess: () => members.refetch() },
   });
 
-  const tasks = useListTasksTasksGet({ projectId });
+  const tasks = useListTasksTasksGet({ project_id: projectId });
+  const taskList = normalizeTasks(tasks.data);
   const createTask = useCreateTaskTasksPost({
     mutation: { onSuccess: () => tasks.refetch() },
   });
@@ -68,9 +73,10 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
   const [commentBody, setCommentBody] = useState("");
 
   const comments = useListTaskCommentsTaskCommentsGet(
-    { taskId: commentTaskId ?? 0 },
+    { task_id: commentTaskId ?? 0 },
     { query: { enabled: Boolean(commentTaskId) } },
   );
+  const commentList = normalizeTaskComments(comments.data);
   const addComment = useCreateTaskCommentTaskCommentsPost({
     mutation: {
       onSuccess: () => {
@@ -81,18 +87,19 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
   });
 
   const tasksByStatus = (() => {
-    const map = new Map<string, typeof tasks.data>();
+    const map = new Map<string, typeof taskList>();
     for (const s of STATUSES) map.set(s, []);
-    for (const t of tasks.data ?? []) {
-      map.get(t.status)?.push(t);
+    for (const t of taskList) {
+      const status = t.status ?? "backlog";
+      map.get(status)?.push(t);
     }
     return map;
   })();
 
   const employeeName = (id: number | null | undefined) =>
-    employees.data?.find((e) => e.id === id)?.name ?? "—";
+    employeeList.find((e) => e.id === id)?.name ?? "—";
 
-  const projectMembers = members.data ?? [];
+  const projectMembers = memberList;
 
   return (
     <main className="mx-auto max-w-6xl p-6">
@@ -118,13 +125,13 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
             <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2">
               <Select value={assigneeId} onChange={(e) => setAssigneeId(e.target.value)}>
                 <option value="">Assignee</option>
-                {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+                {employeeList.map((e) => (
                   <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
                 ))}
               </Select>
               <Select value={reviewerId} onChange={(e) => setReviewerId(e.target.value)}>
                 <option value="">Reviewer</option>
-                {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+                {employeeList.map((e) => (
                   <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
                 ))}
               </Select>
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
               e.currentTarget.value = "";
             }}>
               <option value="">Add member…</option>
-              {(employees.data ?? []).map((e) => (
+              {employeeList.map((e) => (
                 <option key={e.id ?? e.name} value={e.id ?? ""}>{e.name}</option>
               ))}
             </Select>
@@ -274,14 +281,14 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
               Add comment
             </Button>
             <ul className="space-y-2">
-              {(comments.data ?? []).map((c) => (
+              {commentList.map((c) => (
                 <li key={String(c.id)} className="rounded-md border p-2 text-sm">
                   <div className="font-medium">{employeeName(c.author_employee_id)}</div>
-                  <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{new Date(c.created_at).toLocaleString()}</div>
+                  <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{(c.created_at ? new Date(c.created_at).toLocaleString() : "—")}</div>
                   <div className="mt-1">{c.body}</div>
                 </li>
               ))}
-              {(comments.data ?? []).length === 0 ? (
+              {commentList.length === 0 ? (
                 <li className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No comments yet.</li>
               ) : null}
             </ul>
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
index 79a4d39..e47c539 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import styles from "@/app/_components/Shell.module.css";
 
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
+import { normalizeProjects } from "@/lib/normalize";
 
 import {
   useCreateProjectProjectsPost,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
   const [name, setName] = useState("");
 
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
+  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
   const createProject = useCreateProjectProjectsPost({
     mutation: {
       onSuccess: () => {
@@ -26,9 +28,7 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
     },
   });
 
-  const sorted = useMemo(() => {
-    return (projects.data ?? []).slice().sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
-  }, [projects.data]);
+  const sorted = projectList.slice().sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
 
   return (
     <main>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts b/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f92bea5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+import type { Department } from "@/api/generated/model/department";
+
+// Local activity shape (not generated as a model)
+export type Activity = {
+  id?: number;
+  actor_employee_id?: number | null;
+  entity_type?: string;
+  entity_id?: number | null;
+  verb?: string;
+  payload?: unknown;
+  created_at?: string;
+};
+import type { Employee } from "@/api/generated/model/employee";
+import type { AgentOnboarding } from "@/api/generated/model/agentOnboarding";
+import type { EmploymentAction } from "@/api/generated/model/employmentAction";
+import type { HeadcountRequest } from "@/api/generated/model/headcountRequest";
+import type { Project } from "@/api/generated/model/project";
+import type { Task } from "@/api/generated/model/task";
+import type { ProjectMember } from "@/api/generated/model/projectMember";
+import type { TaskComment } from "@/api/generated/model/taskComment";
+
+export function normalizeEmployees(data: unknown): Employee[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as Employee[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as Employee[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeDepartments(data: unknown): Department[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as Department[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as Department[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeHeadcountRequests(data: unknown): HeadcountRequest[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as HeadcountRequest[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as HeadcountRequest[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeEmploymentActions(data: unknown): EmploymentAction[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as EmploymentAction[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as EmploymentAction[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeAgentOnboardings(data: unknown): AgentOnboarding[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as AgentOnboarding[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as AgentOnboarding[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeActivities(data: unknown): Activity[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as Activity[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as Activity[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeProjects(data: unknown): Project[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as Project[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as Project[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeTasks(data: unknown): Task[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as Task[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as Task[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeTaskComments(data: unknown): TaskComment[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as TaskComment[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as TaskComment[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+export function normalizeProjectMembers(data: unknown): ProjectMember[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(data)) return data as ProjectMember[];
+  if (data && typeof data === "object" && "data" in data) {
+    const maybe = (data as { data?: unknown }).data;
+    if (Array.isArray(maybe)) return maybe as ProjectMember[];
+  }
+  return [];
+}