feat: unanswered ticket badges, dashboard counts, cross-department ticket creation

- Add /tickets/unanswered-counts API endpoint for staff/admin
- Show red badge with unanswered count on sidebar nav (staff tickets, admin tickets)
- Add summary cards (unanswered/answered/total) to staff tickets page
- Highlight unanswered count in admin tickets stats cards
- Staff can create tickets to OTHER departments only (not their own)
- Frontend hides own department from ticket creation dropdown
- Sidebar badges auto-refresh every 30 seconds

backend/src/tickets/tickets.controller.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   Query,
   UseGuards,
   Request,
+  ForbiddenException,
 } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { AuthGuard } from '@nestjs/passport';
 import { ApiTags, ApiOperation, ApiBearerAuth, ApiQuery } from '@nestjs/swagger';
@@ -29,8 +30,15 @@ export class TicketsController {
   // ═══════════════════════════════════════════
 
   @Post()
-  @ApiOperation({ summary: 'Create a new ticket (any user)' })
+  @ApiOperation({ summary: 'Create a new ticket' })
   async create(@Request() req: any, @Body() dto: CreateTicketDto) {
+    // Staff cannot create tickets to their own department
+    if (req.user.role === UserRole.TECHNICAL && dto.department === 'technical') {
+      throw new ForbiddenException('You cannot create a ticket to your own department');
+    }
+    if (req.user.role === UserRole.SALES && dto.department === 'sales') {
+      throw new ForbiddenException('You cannot create a ticket to your own department');
+    }
     return this.ticketsService.create(req.user.id, req.user.role, dto);
   }
 
@@ -77,6 +85,13 @@ export class TicketsController {
     return this.ticketsService.getStats();
   }
 
+  @Get('unanswered-counts')
+  @Roles(UserRole.ADMIN, UserRole.TECHNICAL, UserRole.SALES)
+  @ApiOperation({ summary: 'Get unanswered ticket counts per department (Staff/Admin)' })
+  async getUnansweredCounts() {
+    return this.ticketsService.getUnansweredCounts();
+  }
+
   // ═══════════════════════════════════════════
   // PARAMETERIZED ROUTES (after static routes)
   // ═══════════════════════════════════════════

backend/src/tickets/tickets.service.ts

@@ -119,6 +119,19 @@ export class TicketsService {
     await this.ticketsRepo.update(ticketId, data);
   }
 
+  // ─── Unanswered ticket counts ───
+  async getUnansweredCounts(): Promise<{ technical: number; sales: number; total: number }> {
+    const unanswered = await this.ticketsRepo.find({
+      where: [
+        { status: TicketStatus.OPEN },
+        { status: TicketStatus.WAITING },
+      ],
+    });
+    const technical = unanswered.filter((t) => t.department === TicketDepartment.TECHNICAL).length;
+    const sales = unanswered.filter((t) => t.department === TicketDepartment.SALES).length;
+    return { technical, sales, total: technical + sales };
+  }
+
   // ─── Staff: List department tickets ───
   async findByDepartment(department: TicketDepartment, status?: TicketStatus): Promise<Ticket[]> {
     const where: any = { department };

frontend/src/app/dashboard/admin/tickets/page.tsx

@@ -59,9 +59,12 @@ export default function AdminTicketsPage() {
             <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Total Tickets</p>
             <p className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900 mt-1">{stats.totalTickets}</p>
           </div>
-          <div className="card p-4">
+          <div className="card p-4 border-l-4 border-l-red-500">
-            <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Open Tickets</p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Unanswered</p>
-            <p className="text-2xl font-bold text-orange-600 mt-1">{stats.openTickets}</p>
+            <p className={`text-2xl font-bold mt-1 ${stats.openTickets > 0 ? 'text-red-600' : 'text-green-600'}`}>
+              {stats.openTickets}
+            </p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">Need staff response</p>
           </div>
           <div className="card p-4">
             <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Avg Response Time</p>
@@ -70,13 +73,14 @@ export default function AdminTicketsPage() {
             </p>
           </div>
           <div className="card p-4">
-            <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Departments</p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">By Department</p>
             <div className="mt-1 space-y-0.5">
               {Object.entries(stats.byDepartment).map(([dept, data]) => (
                 <div key={dept} className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs">
                   <span className="text-gray-600 capitalize">{dept === 'technical' ? '🔧' : '💼'} {dept}</span>
-                  <span className="font-medium text-gray-900">
+                  <span className="font-medium">
-                    {data.open} open / {data.total} total
+                    <span className={data.open > 0 ? 'text-red-600' : 'text-green-600'}>{data.open} unanswered</span>
+                    <span className="text-gray-400"> / {data.total}</span>
                   </span>
                 </div>
               ))}

frontend/src/app/dashboard/layout.tsx

@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useRouter, usePathname } from 'next/navigation';
 import Link from 'next/link';
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/lib/store';
+import api from '@/lib/api';
 
 const userNavItems = [
   { href: '/dashboard', label: 'Dashboard', icon: '📊' },
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
 
   if (!isAuthenticated) return null;
 
-  const NavLink = ({ item }: { item: { href: string; label: string; icon: string } }) => {
+  const NavLink = ({ item, badge }: { item: { href: string; label: string; icon: string }; badge?: number }) => {
     const isActive = pathname === item.href || (item.href !== '/dashboard' && pathname.startsWith(item.href + '/'));
     return (
       <Link
@@ -73,16 +75,43 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
         }`}
       >
         <span className="text-base">{item.icon}</span>
-        <span>{item.label}</span>
+        <span className="flex-1">{item.label}</span>
+        {badge !== undefined && badge > 0 && (
+          <span className="min-w-[20px] h-5 flex items-center justify-center px-1.5 text-xs font-bold rounded-full bg-red-500 text-white">
+            {badge}
+          </span>
+        )}
       </Link>
     );
   };
 
+  // Fetch unanswered ticket counts for staff/admin roles
+  const isStaffOrAdmin = user?.role === 'admin' || user?.role === 'technical' || user?.role === 'sales';
+  const { data: unansweredCounts } = useQuery<{ technical: number; sales: number; total: number }>({
+    queryKey: ['unanswered-counts'],
+    queryFn: () => api.get('/tickets/unanswered-counts').then((r) => r.data),
+    enabled: isStaffOrAdmin,
+    refetchInterval: 30000, // refresh every 30 seconds
+  });
+
+  const getBadge = (href: string): number | undefined => {
+    if (!unansweredCounts) return undefined;
+    if (href === '/dashboard/staff/tickets') {
+      // Staff ticket page: show count for their department
+      if (user?.role === 'technical') return unansweredCounts.technical;
+      if (user?.role === 'sales') return unansweredCounts.sales;
+    }
+    if (href === '/dashboard/admin/tickets') {
+      return unansweredCounts.total;
+    }
+    return undefined;
+  };
+
   const SidebarContent = () => (
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full">
       <div className="space-y-1 flex-1">
         {userNavItems.map((item) => (
-          <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} />
+          <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} badge={getBadge(item.href)} />
         ))}
 
         {user?.role === 'admin' && (
@@ -93,7 +122,7 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
               </p>
             </div>
             {adminNavItems.map((item) => (
-              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} />
+              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} badge={getBadge(item.href)} />
             ))}
           </>
         )}
@@ -106,7 +135,7 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
               </p>
             </div>
             {technicalNavItems.map((item) => (
-              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} />
+              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} badge={getBadge(item.href)} />
             ))}
           </>
         )}
@@ -119,7 +148,7 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
               </p>
             </div>
             {salesNavItems.map((item) => (
-              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} />
+              <NavLink key={item.href} item={item} badge={getBadge(item.href)} />
             ))}
           </>
         )}

frontend/src/app/dashboard/staff/tickets/page.tsx

@@ -36,17 +36,41 @@ export default function StaffTicketsPage() {
     },
   });
 
-  const openCount = tickets.filter((t) => t.status === 'open' || t.status === 'waiting').length;
+  const unansweredCount = tickets.filter((t) => t.status === 'open' || t.status === 'waiting').length;
+  const answeredCount = tickets.filter((t) => t.status === 'answered').length;
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-6">
       <div>
         <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900">{departmentLabel} Tickets</h1>
         <p className="text-sm text-gray-500 mt-1">
-          {openCount} open ticket{openCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''} · {tickets.length} total
+          {tickets.length} total tickets
         </p>
       </div>
 
+      {/* Summary Cards */}
+      <div className="grid grid-cols-3 gap-4">
+        <div className="card p-4">
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Unanswered</p>
+          <p className={`text-2xl font-bold mt-1 ${unansweredCount > 0 ? 'text-red-600' : 'text-green-600'}`}>
+            {unansweredCount}
+          </p>
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">Need response</p>
+        </div>
+        <div className="card p-4">
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Answered</p>
+          <p className="text-2xl font-bold text-green-600 mt-1">{answeredCount}</p>
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">Waiting for user</p>
+        </div>
+        <div className="card p-4">
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 uppercase font-semibold">Total Open</p>
+          <p className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900 mt-1">
+            {tickets.filter((t) => t.status !== 'closed').length}
+          </p>
+          <p className="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">Excluding closed</p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
       {/* Filters */}
       <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
         {(['', 'open', 'waiting', 'answered', 'closed'] as const).map((status) => (

frontend/src/app/dashboard/tickets/page.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useState } from 'react';
 import { useQuery, useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import api from '@/lib/api';
+import { useAuthStore } from '@/lib/store';
 import toast from 'react-hot-toast';
 import type { Ticket, CreateTicketDto, TicketDepartment, TicketPriority } from '@/types';
 
@@ -22,10 +23,21 @@ const priorityColors: Record<string, string> = {
 
 export default function TicketsPage() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const user = useAuthStore((s) => s.user);
   const [showCreate, setShowCreate] = useState(false);
+
+  // Staff can only create tickets to other departments
+  const availableDepartments: { value: TicketDepartment; label: string }[] = [];
+  if (user?.role !== 'technical') {
+    availableDepartments.push({ value: 'technical', label: '🔧 Technical Support' });
+  }
+  if (user?.role !== 'sales') {
+    availableDepartments.push({ value: 'sales', label: '💼 Sales' });
+  }
+  const canCreateTicket = availableDepartments.length > 0;
   const [form, setForm] = useState<CreateTicketDto>({
     subject: '',
-    department: 'technical',
+    department: availableDepartments[0]?.value || 'technical',
     priority: 'medium',
     message: '',
   });
@@ -41,7 +53,7 @@ export default function TicketsPage() {
       toast.success('Ticket created successfully');
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['my-tickets'] });
       setShowCreate(false);
-      setForm({ subject: '', department: 'technical', priority: 'medium', message: '' });
+      setForm({ subject: '', department: availableDepartments[0]?.value || 'technical', priority: 'medium', message: '' });
     },
     onError: (err: any) => toast.error(err.response?.data?.message || 'Failed to create ticket'),
   });
@@ -58,13 +70,15 @@ export default function TicketsPage() {
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900">My Tickets</h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-gray-500 mt-1">Support tickets and their status</p>
         </div>
-        <button onClick={() => setShowCreate(!showCreate)} className="btn-primary">
+        {canCreateTicket && (
-          {showCreate ? '✕ Cancel' : '+ New Ticket'}
+          <button onClick={() => setShowCreate(!showCreate)} className="btn-primary">
-        </button>
+            {showCreate ? '✕ Cancel' : '+ New Ticket'}
+          </button>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Create Ticket Form */}
-      {showCreate && (
+      {showCreate && canCreateTicket && (
         <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="card p-6 space-y-4">
           <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Create New Ticket</h2>
 
@@ -89,8 +103,9 @@ export default function TicketsPage() {
                 value={form.department}
                 onChange={(e) => setForm({ ...form, department: e.target.value as TicketDepartment })}
               >
-                <option value="technical">🔧 Technical Support</option>
+                {availableDepartments.map((dept) => (
-                <option value="sales">💼 Sales</option>
+                  <option key={dept.value} value={dept.value}>{dept.label}</option>
+                ))}
               </select>
             </div>
             <div>