diff --git a/frontend-web/src/components/ui/use-toast.jsx b/frontend-web/src/components/ui/use-toast.jsx
index a200e225..5ad1caad 100644
--- a/frontend-web/src/components/ui/use-toast.jsx
+++ b/frontend-web/src/components/ui/use-toast.jsx
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ function dispatch(action) {
 async function createNotification(title, description, variant) {
   try {
     const user = await krowSDK.auth.me();
+
     if (!user) {
         console.warn("Cannot create notification: user not authenticated.");
         return;
diff --git a/frontend-web/src/pages/StaffDirectory.jsx b/frontend-web/src/pages/StaffDirectory.jsx
index 88ce6f0c..4751c3e2 100644
--- a/frontend-web/src/pages/StaffDirectory.jsx
+++ b/frontend-web/src/pages/StaffDirectory.jsx
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export default function StaffDirectory() {
     if (!krowUser || !staff) return [];
     const userRole = krowUser.user_role || krowUser.role;
 
-    if (['admin', 'procurement', 'operator', 'sector'].includes(userRole)) {
+    if (['admin', 'procurement', 'operator', 'sector'].includes(userRole.toLowerCase())) {
       return staff;
     }
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ export default function StaffDirectory() {
     return matchesSearch && matchesDepartment && matchesLocation;
   });
 
-  const canAddStaff = krowUser && ['admin', 'procurement', 'operator', 'sector', 'vendor'].includes(krowUser.user_role || krowUser.role);
+  const canAddStaff = krowUser && ['admin', 'procurement', 'operator', 'sector', 'vendor'].includes((krowUser.user_role || krowUser.role || '').toLowerCase());
   const isLoading = isLoadingStaff || isLoadingUser;
 
   const getPageTitle = () => {