diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2cbfe4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+name: Benchmark
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
+    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, labeled, unlabeled, edited, ready_for_review]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  pull-requests: read
+  issues: read
+
+jobs:
+  workload:
+    concurrency:
+      group: benchmark-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
+      cancel-in-progress: true
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
+
+  benchmark-status:
+    name: Benchmark Status
+    if: ${{ always() && github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
+    needs: workload
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v7
+        with:
+          node-version: '24'
+      - name: Require the benchmark workload to succeed
+        env:
+          BENCHMARK_JOB_RESULTS: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
+        run: node scripts/check-ci-status.ts
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
index 9bfa77e..1f836f7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
@@ -1,21 +1,13 @@
-name: Benchmark
+name: Benchmark Workload
 
 on:
-  push:
-    branches: [main]
-  pull_request:
-    branches: [main]
-    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, labeled, unlabeled, edited, ready_for_review]
+  workflow_call:
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
   pull-requests: read
   issues: read
 
-concurrency:
-  group: benchmark-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
 env:
   CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
 
@@ -291,7 +283,7 @@ jobs:
 
   # Provide one required check that also reports failed, skipped, or cancelled stages.
   benchmark-status:
-    name: Benchmark Status
+    name: Workload Status
     if: ${{ always() && github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
     needs: [eligibility, configure, producer, smoke, prepare, measure, collect]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index 1e2f97d..664a417 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ The preview URL then returns 404.
 * `benchmarks: skip` replaces publishable measurements with one-request smoke coverage on KVM and MSHV. Smoke results are not published. Dependabot applies the label automatically.
 * Required checks evaluate the current PR policy on every subscribed event. Label and description edits restart the benchmark workflow. Measurements run unless `benchmarks: skip` is present.
 * Each of the 36 measurement jobs runs all three strategies sequentially with a fresh server process for each. Retrying a job repeats its three strategies.
-* Preview builds run independently of benchmarks. Draft and Dependabot PRs have no preview.
+* Preview builds run independently of benchmarks. Draft PRs have no preview.
 * Production uses published history. Previews include matching pending results when available.
-* Benchmark and preview workflow YAML must match `main` before publishers accept their artifacts.
+* Benchmark trigger, workload, and preview workflow YAML must match `main` before publishers accept their artifacts.
 * Merge requires `Benchmark Policy`, `Benchmark Status`, an up-to-date branch, and squash merging. Required PR review count is zero. Preview and publication success do not block merge.
 
 Publication calls Pages after a main push or a data change. Pages also runs for
diff --git a/scripts/check-ci-status.ts b/scripts/check-ci-status.ts
index 0f38f10..730daec 100644
--- a/scripts/check-ci-status.ts
+++ b/scripts/check-ci-status.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { appendFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 
 const results = JSON.parse(process.env.BENCHMARK_JOB_RESULTS ?? '{}') as Record<string, { result?: string }>
-const required = process.env.BENCHMARK_MODE === 'skip'
-  ? ['eligibility', 'configure', 'producer', 'smoke']
-  : ['eligibility', 'configure', 'producer', 'prepare', 'measure', 'collect']
+const required = 'workload' in results
+  ? ['workload']
+  : process.env.BENCHMARK_MODE === 'skip'
+    ? ['eligibility', 'configure', 'producer', 'smoke']
+    : ['eligibility', 'configure', 'producer', 'prepare', 'measure', 'collect']
 const failed = required.filter(job => results[job]?.result !== 'success')
 const summary = required.map(job => `* ${job}: ${results[job]?.result ?? 'missing'}`).join('\n')
 console.log(summary)
diff --git a/scripts/publication.test.ts b/scripts/publication.test.ts
index cd82f7f..19690e4 100644
--- a/scripts/publication.test.ts
+++ b/scripts/publication.test.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ test('benchmark status requires smoke only for skipped measurements', () => {
   assert.equal(check('required', {
     ...shared, smoke: { result: 'skipped' }, prepare: { result: 'success' }, measure: { result: 'success' }, collect: { result: 'success' },
   }).status, 0)
+  assert.equal(check('skip', { workload: { result: 'success' } }).status, 0)
+  assert.notEqual(check('skip', { workload: { result: 'cancelled' } }).status, 0)
 })
 
 test('partial retries retain successful measurements from the same source revision', () => {
@@ -414,7 +416,7 @@ test('workflows must match trusted main', async context => {
     assert.ok(path.startsWith('contents/'), `Unexpected GitHub request: ${path}`)
     return Response.json({ encoding: 'base64', content: Buffer.from(content).toString('base64') })
   })
-  for (const workflow of ['benchmark', 'preview']) {
+  for (const workflow of ['benchmark', 'benchmark-trigger', 'preview']) {
     const path = `.github/workflows/${workflow}.yml`
     writeFileSync(path, 'trusted workflow')
     content = 'trusted workflow'
@@ -511,8 +513,9 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
     id: 12345, run_attempt: 1, event: 'pull_request', conclusion: 'success', head_sha: 'a'.repeat(40), pull_requests: [{ number: 7 }],
   } }
   writeJson(eventPath, notification, false)
-  const workflow = readFileSync(resolve(root, '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml'), 'utf8')
-  let workflowContent = workflow
+  const triggerWorkflow = readFileSync(resolve(root, '.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml'), 'utf8')
+  let triggerWorkflowContent = triggerWorkflow
+  const workloadWorkflow = readFileSync(resolve(root, '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml'), 'utf8')
   const bundle = fixture()
   const pr = {
     number: 7, base: { ref: 'main', repo: { full_name: repository }, sha: bundle.run.pullRequest!.base },
@@ -524,9 +527,10 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
   let failedJob = false
   let pushes = 0
   let downloads = 0
-  const jobs = ['eligibility', 'configure', 'producer', 'collect', 'Benchmark Status',
-    ...Array.from({ length: 2 }, (_, index) => `prepare (${index})`),
-    ...Array.from({ length: 36 }, (_, index) => `measure (${index})`),
+  const jobs = ['workload / eligibility', 'workload / configure', 'workload / producer',
+    'workload / collect', 'workload / Workload Status', 'Benchmark Status',
+    ...Array.from({ length: 2 }, (_, index) => `workload / prepare (${index})`),
+    ...Array.from({ length: 36 }, (_, index) => `workload / measure (${index})`),
   ].map(name => ({ name, conclusion: 'success' }))
   let retryJobs: typeof jobs = []
   const statuses: any[] = []
@@ -552,9 +556,10 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
       'pulls/7': pr,
       [`commits/${pr.merge_commit_sha}/pulls`]: [pr],
       [`commits/${'d'.repeat(40)}/pulls`]: [pr],
-      'actions/runs/12345/attempts/1': { id: 12345, event: 'pull_request', conclusion: 'success', path: '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml', head_sha: workflowHead, created_at: bundle.run.createdAt },
-      'actions/runs/12345/attempts/2': { id: 12345, event: 'pull_request', conclusion: 'success', path: '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml', head_sha: workflowHead, created_at: bundle.run.createdAt },
-      'contents/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml': { encoding: 'base64', content: Buffer.from(workflowContent).toString('base64') },
+      'actions/runs/12345/attempts/1': { id: 12345, event: 'pull_request', conclusion: 'success', path: '.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml', head_sha: workflowHead, created_at: bundle.run.createdAt },
+      'actions/runs/12345/attempts/2': { id: 12345, event: 'pull_request', conclusion: 'success', path: '.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml', head_sha: workflowHead, created_at: bundle.run.createdAt },
+      'contents/.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml': { encoding: 'base64', content: Buffer.from(triggerWorkflowContent).toString('base64') },
+      'contents/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml': { encoding: 'base64', content: Buffer.from(workloadWorkflow).toString('base64') },
       [`git/commits/${bundle.run.commit.sha}`]: { tree: { sha: bundle.run.commit.tree }, parents: [{ sha: bundle.run.pullRequest!.base }, { sha: bundle.run.pullRequest!.head }] },
       [`git/commits/${pr.merge_commit_sha}`]: { tree: { sha: mergedTree }, message: 'Benchmark results (#7)' },
     }
@@ -575,7 +580,8 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
   })
   syncBuiltinESMExports()
   mkdirSync(resolve(temporary, '.github/workflows'), { recursive: true })
-  writeFileSync(resolve(temporary, '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml'), workflow)
+  writeFileSync(resolve(temporary, '.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml'), triggerWorkflow)
+  writeFileSync(resolve(temporary, '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml'), workloadWorkflow)
   const { main } = await import('./publish-ci.ts')
   const clearStore = () => {
     rmSync(resolve(temporary, 'data-store'), { recursive: true, force: true })
@@ -643,7 +649,8 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
     const originalUrl = bundle.run.workflow.url
     bundle.run.attempt = 2
     bundle.run.workflow.url = `https://github.com/${repository}/actions/runs/12345/attempts/2`
-    retryJobs = jobs.filter(job => ['eligibility', 'measure (0)', 'collect', 'Benchmark Status'].includes(job.name))
+    retryJobs = jobs.filter(job => ['eligibility', 'measure (0)', 'collect', 'Workload Status', 'Benchmark Status']
+      .includes(job.name.split(' / ').at(-1)!))
     failedJob = true
     writeJson(eventPath, { workflow_run: { ...notification.workflow_run, run_attempt: 2 } }, false)
     try {
@@ -653,10 +660,10 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
       assert.deepEqual(readJson(resolve(temporary, 'data-store/index.json')), { schemaVersion: 1, runs: [{ id: '12345', attempt: 2 }] })
       const stored = validateCompleteRun(readJson(resolve(temporary, 'data-store/runs/12345/2.json')))
       assert.deepEqual(stored.measurements, bundle.measurements)
-      retryJobs = retryJobs.map(job => ({ ...job, conclusion: job.name === 'measure (0)' ? 'failure' : 'success' }))
+      retryJobs = retryJobs.map(job => ({ ...job, conclusion: job.name.endsWith('measure (0)') ? 'failure' : 'success' }))
       await assert.rejects(main(), /successful measure/)
       assert.equal(downloads, 1, 'A failed retry must not use an earlier successful job')
-      retryJobs = retryJobs.filter(job => job.name !== 'eligibility')
+      retryJobs = retryJobs.filter(job => !job.name.endsWith('eligibility'))
       await assert.rejects(main(), /successful eligibility/)
       assert.equal(downloads, 1)
     } finally {
@@ -700,16 +707,16 @@ test('CI archival and promotion with simulated GitHub and Git', async context =>
   })
   await context.test('changed workflows cannot archive before matching main', async () => {
     clearStore()
-    workflowContent = `${workflow}\n`
+    triggerWorkflowContent = `${triggerWorkflow}\n`
     pr.merged = false
     pr.state = 'open'
     try {
-      await assert.rejects(main(), /workflow must match current main/)
+      await assert.rejects(main(), /workflow files must match current main/)
       assert.equal(downloads, 0)
       assert.equal(pushes, 0)
       assert.equal(statuses.at(-1).state, 'failure')
     } finally {
-      workflowContent = workflow
+      triggerWorkflowContent = triggerWorkflow
       pr.merged = true
       pr.state = 'closed'
       clearStore()
diff --git a/scripts/publish-ci.ts b/scripts/publish-ci.ts
index e4335b6..0f443ca 100644
--- a/scripts/publish-ci.ts
+++ b/scripts/publish-ci.ts
@@ -42,11 +42,13 @@ function pushStore() {
 
 async function verifiedRun(runId: number, attempt: number) {
   const run = await github(`actions/runs/${runId}/attempts/${attempt}`)
-  if (run.event !== 'pull_request' || run.conclusion !== 'success' || run.path !== '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml') {
+  if (run.event !== 'pull_request' || run.conclusion !== 'success' || run.path !== '.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml') {
     throw new Error('Expected a successful PR Benchmark workflow attempt')
   }
-  if (!await workflowTrusted('.github/workflows/benchmark.yml', run.head_sha)) {
-    throw new Error('Benchmark workflow must match current main. After merge, rerun this publication workflow.')
+  for (const path of ['.github/workflows/benchmark-trigger.yml', '.github/workflows/benchmark.yml']) {
+    if (!await workflowTrusted(path, run.head_sha)) {
+      throw new Error('Benchmark workflow files must match current main. After merge, rerun this publication workflow.')
+    }
   }
   const latestJobs = new Map<string, any>()
   for (let currentAttempt = attempt; currentAttempt >= 1; currentAttempt--) {
@@ -64,10 +66,14 @@ async function verifiedRun(runId: number, attempt: number) {
   const jobs = [...latestJobs.values()]
   const expected = new Map([
     ['eligibility', 1], ['configure', 1], ['producer', 1], ['prepare', 2],
-    ['measure', publicationPolicy.catalog.platforms.length * publicationPolicy.catalog.runtimes.length], ['collect', 1], ['Benchmark Status', 1],
+    ['measure', publicationPolicy.catalog.platforms.length * publicationPolicy.catalog.runtimes.length],
+    ['collect', 1], ['Workload Status', 1], ['Benchmark Status', 1],
   ])
   for (const [name, count] of expected) {
-    const matching = jobs.filter(job => job.name === name || job.name.startsWith(`${name} (`))
+    const matching = jobs.filter(job => {
+      const leaf = job.name.split(' / ').at(-1)
+      return leaf === name || leaf?.startsWith(`${name} (`)
+    })
     if (matching.length !== count || matching.some(job => job.conclusion !== 'success')) {
       throw new Error(`Run ${runId} through attempt ${attempt} requires ${count} successful ${name} jobs. Rerun the failed jobs.`)
     }