diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index ed11b55..37c462a 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1294,32 +1294,35 @@ async def update_attendance_record(
 # ============ Employees List (combined source) ============
 @app.get("/api/employees/list")
 async def list_employees(
-    source: Optional[str] = "all",  # "all" / "attendance" / "leave" / "accident"
+    source: Optional[str] = "all",  # "all" / "attendance" / "leave"
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
 ):
-    """List distinct employee names from attendance + leave + accident records.
+    """List distinct employee names (real staff only).
+
+    Sources: attendance_records + leave_records (NOT accident - that table stores
+    submitter emails, not staff names).
+
+    Filter: names containing "@" (email format) are excluded automatically.
 
     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
     """
+    import re
+    EMAIL_RE = re.compile(r"@")
     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 n[0] and not EMAIL_RE.search(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])
+            if n[0] and not EMAIL_RE.search(n[0]):
+                names.add(n[0])
+    # NOTE: Accident.employee_name contains submitter EMAIL (e.g. info@scmedical.hk),
+    # NOT the injured staff name. We exclude accident from employee list to avoid
+    # polluting staff dropdown with email addresses.
     sorted_names = sorted(names, key=lambda x: x.lower())
-    return {"employees": sorted_names, "count": len(sorted_names), "source": source}
+    return {"employees": sorted_names, "count": len(sorted_names), "source": source, "excluded": "accident (email column)"}
 
 
 # ============ Holidays CRUD ============# ============ Holidays CRUD ============