diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 960ef63..ed11b55 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1291,7 +1291,38 @@ async def update_attendance_record(
     return {"message": "ok", "id": record_id}
 
 
-# ============ Holidays CRUD ============
+# ============ Employees List (combined source) ============
+@app.get("/api/employees/list")
+async def list_employees(
+    source: Optional[str] = "all",  # "all" / "attendance" / "leave" / "accident"
+    db: Session = Depends(get_db),
+    current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
+):
+    """List distinct employee names from attendance + leave + accident records.
+
+    Used by frontend dropdowns to show ALL staff, even those who haven't taken leave yet.
+
+    source:
+      - all      (default): UNION of attendance + leave + accident
+      - attendance: only attendance_records.employee_name
+      - leave:       only leave_records.employee_name
+      - accident:    only Accident.employee_name
+    """
+    names = set()
+    if source in ("all", "attendance"):
+        for n in db.query(AttendanceRecord.employee_name).distinct().all():
+            if n[0]: names.add(n[0])
+    if source in ("all", "leave"):
+        for n in db.query(LeaveRecord.employee_name).distinct().all():
+            if n[0]: names.add(n[0])
+    if source in ("all", "accident"):
+        for n in db.query(Accident.employee_name).distinct().all():
+            if n[0]: names.add(n[0])
+    sorted_names = sorted(names, key=lambda x: x.lower())
+    return {"employees": sorted_names, "count": len(sorted_names), "source": source}
+
+
+# ============ Holidays CRUD ============# ============ Holidays CRUD ============
 @app.get("/api/holidays", response_model=List[HolidayOut])
 async def list_holidays(
     year: Optional[int] = None,
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/holidays/Holidays.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/holidays/Holidays.jsx
index 8b47f60..e2cd085 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/holidays/Holidays.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/holidays/Holidays.jsx
@@ -284,7 +284,13 @@ function LeavesTab() {
     URL.revokeObjectURL(url)
   }
 
-  const uniqueEmps = [...new Set(leaves.map(l => l.employee_name))].sort()
+  // Fetch employee list from /api/employees/list (UNION of attendance + leave + accident)
+  const [employees, setEmployees] = useState([])
+  useEffect(() => {
+    api.get('/api/employees/list')
+      .then(({ data }) => setEmployees(data.employees || []))
+      .catch(() => setEmployees([]))
+  }, [])
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4">