diff --git a/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.test.tsx b/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.test.tsx
index 455c7bf..c5f8b06 100644
--- a/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.test.tsx
+++ b/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.test.tsx
@@ -42,12 +42,13 @@ describe("DutyList", () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(/No duties this month/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it("renders quiet placeholder when data not yet loaded for month", () => {
+  it("renders compact loading placeholder when data not yet loaded for month (no skeleton)", () => {
     useAppStore.getState().setDuties([]);
     useAppStore.getState().batchUpdate({ dataForMonthKey: null });
     render(<DutyList />);
     expect(screen.queryByText(/No duties this month/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(document.querySelector('[aria-busy="true"]')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(document.querySelector('[data-slot="skeleton"]')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it("renders duty with full_name and time range", () => {
diff --git a/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.tsx b/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.tsx
index 70ef692..3fec87e 100644
--- a/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.tsx
+++ b/webapp-next/src/components/duty/DutyList.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/lib/date-utils";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
+import { LoadingState } from "@/components/states/LoadingState";
 import { DutyTimelineCard } from "./DutyTimelineCard";
 
 /** Extra offset so the sticky calendar slightly overlaps the target card (card sits a bit under the calendar). */
@@ -146,14 +147,8 @@ export function DutyList({ scrollMarginTop = 268, className }: DutyListProps) {
 
   if (!hasDataForMonth) {
     return (
-      <div
-        role="status"
-        aria-busy="true"
-        aria-live="polite"
-        aria-label={t("loading")}
-      >
-        <span className="sr-only">{t("loading")}</span>
-        <DutyListSkeleton className={className} />
+      <div aria-busy="true" className={className}>
+        <LoadingState asPlaceholder />
       </div>
     );
   }
diff --git a/webapp-next/src/components/ui/skeleton.tsx b/webapp-next/src/components/ui/skeleton.tsx
index 3ec6be7..0118624 100644
--- a/webapp-next/src/components/ui/skeleton.tsx
+++ b/webapp-next/src/components/ui/skeleton.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ function Skeleton({ className, ...props }: React.ComponentProps<"div">) {
   return (
     <div
       data-slot="skeleton"
-      className={cn("animate-pulse rounded-md bg-accent", className)}
+      className={cn("animate-pulse rounded-md bg-muted", className)}
       {...props}
     />
   )