diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2c9b447c..261aed6d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,20 +1,15 @@
-# OS / IDE
-.idea/
-.DS_Store
-
 # Python
-backend/.venv/
-backend/__pycache__/
-backend/.pytest_cache/
-backend/.env
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
 
-# Node
-frontend/node_modules/
-frontend/.next/
-frontend/.env.local
+# Node / Next
+node_modules/
+.next/
 
-# Logs
-*.log
+# Env
+.env
+.env.local
 
-# Local run logs
+# IDE
+.idea/
 .runlogs/
diff --git a/backend/.gitignore b/backend/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3d6a54ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+.env
+.venv/
diff --git a/backend/app/api/__pycache__/activities.cpython-312.pyc b/backend/app/api/__pycache__/activities.cpython-312.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
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deleted file mode 100644
index c8957d29..00000000
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diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/org.cpython-312.pyc b/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/org.cpython-312.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
index 40fca14f..00000000
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diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/projects.cpython-312.pyc b/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/projects.cpython-312.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
index d9fc2785..00000000
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diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/work.cpython-312.pyc b/backend/app/schemas/__pycache__/work.cpython-312.pyc
deleted file mode 100644
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diff --git a/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
index 75ba167d..d4744dd9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/departments/page.tsx
@@ -5,7 +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 { normalizeDepartments, normalizeEmployees } from "@/lib/normalize";
+
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 import {
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ export default function DepartmentsPage() {
   const [headId, setHeadId] = useState<string>("");
 
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
-  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
+  const departmentList = departments.data ?? [];
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
 
-  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const employeeList = employees.data ?? [];
 
   const createDepartment = useCreateDepartmentDepartmentsPost({
     mutation: {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
index 2e49f51b..30805b84 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/hr/page.tsx
@@ -5,7 +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";
 
@@ -22,16 +22,16 @@ import { useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet, useListEmployeesEmployeesGet } from "
 
 export default function HRPage() {
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
-  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
+  const departmentList = departments.data ?? [];
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
-  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const employeeList = 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 headcountList = headcount.data ?? [];
+  const actionList = actions.data ?? [];
+  const onboardingList = onboarding.data ?? [];
 
   const [hcDeptId, setHcDeptId] = useState<string>("");
   const [hcManagerId, setHcManagerId] = useState<string>("");
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
index 1766ba26..a34ed799 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -6,7 +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 { normalizeActivities } from "@/lib/normalize";
 import { Select } from "@/components/ui/select";
 
 import { useCreateProjectProjectsPost, useListProjectsProjectsGet } from "@/api/generated/projects/projects";
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ import { useListActivitiesActivitiesGet } from "@/api/generated/activities/activ
 
 export default function Home() {
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
-  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
+  const projectList = projects.data ?? [];
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
-  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
+  const departmentList = departments.data ?? [];
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
   const activities = useListActivitiesActivitiesGet({ limit: 20 });
-  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const employeeList = employees.data ?? [];
   const activityList = normalizeActivities(activities.data);
 
   const [projectName, setProjectName] = useState("");
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
index 10cb1d29..e0c06d83 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/people/page.tsx
@@ -6,7 +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 {
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ export default function PeoplePage() {
 
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
   const departments = useListDepartmentsDepartmentsGet();
-  const departmentList = normalizeDepartments(departments.data);
-  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const departmentList = departments.data ?? [];
+  const employeeList = employees.data ?? [];
 
   const createEmployee = useCreateEmployeeEmployeesPost({
     mutation: {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
index 723c78fa..78326342 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/projects/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -6,7 +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";
 
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
   const projectId = Number(params?.id);
 
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
-  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
+  const projectList = projects.data ?? [];
   const project = projectList.find((p) => p.id === projectId);
 
   const employees = useListEmployeesEmployeesGet();
-  const employeeList = normalizeEmployees(employees.data);
+  const employeeList = employees.data ?? [];
 
   const members = useListProjectMembersProjectsProjectIdMembersGet(projectId);
-  const memberList = normalizeProjectMembers(members.data);
+  const memberList = members.data ?? [];
   const addMember = useAddProjectMemberProjectsProjectIdMembersPost({
     mutation: { onSuccess: () => members.refetch() },
   });
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
   });
 
   const tasks = useListTasksTasksGet({ project_id: projectId });
-  const taskList = normalizeTasks(tasks.data);
+  const taskList = tasks.data ?? [];
   const createTask = useCreateTaskTasksPost({
     mutation: { onSuccess: () => tasks.refetch() },
   });
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export default function ProjectDetailPage() {
     { task_id: commentTaskId ?? 0 },
     { query: { enabled: Boolean(commentTaskId) } },
   );
-  const commentList = normalizeTaskComments(comments.data);
+  const commentList = comments.data ?? [];
   const addComment = useCreateTaskCommentTaskCommentsPost({
     mutation: {
       onSuccess: () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
index e47c5392..c97a5148 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/projects/page.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ 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,
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
   const [name, setName] = useState("");
 
   const projects = useListProjectsProjectsGet();
-  const projectList = normalizeProjects(projects.data);
+  const projectList = projects.data ?? [];
   const createProject = useCreateProjectProjectsPost({
     mutation: {
       onSuccess: () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index af53c09a..00000000
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-export function apiUrl(path: string) {
-  const base = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL;
-  if (!base) throw new Error("NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL is not set");
-  return `${base}${path}`;
-}
-
-export async function apiGet<T>(path: string): Promise<T> {
-  const res = await fetch(apiUrl(path), { cache: "no-store" });
-  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`GET ${path} failed (${res.status})`);
-  return (await res.json()) as T;
-}
-
-export async function apiSend<T>(
-  path: string,
-  opts: { method: "POST" | "PATCH" | "DELETE"; body?: unknown }
-): Promise<T> {
-  const res = await fetch(apiUrl(path), {
-    method: opts.method,
-    headers: opts.body ? { "Content-Type": "application/json" } : undefined,
-    body: opts.body ? JSON.stringify(opts.body) : undefined,
-  });
-  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${opts.method} ${path} failed (${res.status})`);
-  return (await res.json()) as T;
-}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts b/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts
index f92bea55..7ddb1b03 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/normalize.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-import type { Department } from "@/api/generated/model/department";
+// NOTE:
+// Orval-generated hooks already return strongly-typed arrays for most endpoints.
+// We keep only the Activity type + a tiny normalizer here because Activity is not
+// currently generated as a model.
 
-// Local activity shape (not generated as a model)
 export type Activity = {
   id?: number;
   actor_employee_id?: number | null;
@@ -10,59 +12,6 @@ export type Activity = {
   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[];
@@ -72,39 +21,3 @@ export function normalizeActivities(data: unknown): 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 [];
-}