> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tess.im/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent Lifecycle

> Employee status, run outcomes, and actions — invoke, pause, resume, and terminate from the Mesh drawer

## Overview

Every Digital Employee has two related layers of state:

1. **Employee status** — long-lived badge on the Mesh node and drawer (Idle, Active, Running, etc.)
2. **Run status** — outcome of one execution in the timeline (Running, Success, Failed, Awaiting approval)

Monitoring and troubleshooting are easier when you keep both in mind.

## Employee status

| Status               | Meaning                                                    |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Idle**             | Created and configured; not scheduled or recently restored |
| **Active**           | Enabled — waiting for the next Work Cycle or invoke        |
| **Running**          | Executing a run now                                        |
| **Paused**           | Will not wake on schedule until resumed                    |
| **Error**            | Last run failed — review timeline and run detail           |
| **Pending approval** | Blocked on plan, input, connector, or hire review          |
| **Terminated**       | Decommissioned (fired) — no further scheduled work         |

New hires usually start as **Active**. **Idle** often appears after restoring a previously terminated employee.

## Run status (timeline)

Each invoke or Work Cycle wake creates a **run** with its own status:

| Run status            | Meaning                         |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Running**           | In progress                     |
| **Success**           | Finished without error          |
| **Failed**            | Ended with an error             |
| **Awaiting approval** | Paused mid-run until you decide |

A run in **Awaiting approval** blocks that run (and can block the next scheduled wake-up) until you resolve the card — see [Approvals & Interactions](/en/cowork/digital-employees/aprovacoes-e-interacoes/approvals-interactions). There is no auto-approve timeout.

<Tip>
  “Success” and “Failed” describe a **run**, not the employee. After a successful run, the employee typically returns to **Active**. After failure, it moves to **Error** until the next successful run.
</Tip>

## Actions from the drawer

Open an employee on the Mesh, then use drawer actions:

### Invoke (manual run)

Trigger an immediate run without waiting for the Work Cycle. Status moves to **Running** until the run completes.

### Pause

Stops future scheduled wake-ups. A run already in flight is not forcibly interrupted — pause affects **next** heartbeats.

### Resume

Re-enables scheduling and returns the employee to **Active** (or **Idle** when no cycle is set).

### Terminate (fire)

Decommissions the employee (**Terminated**). Use when the role is no longer needed. Restoring a terminated employee (when permitted) returns it toward **Idle** / **Active**.

Permissions may hide some actions — ask your admin if Invoke or Terminate is missing.

## Scheduled work (Work Cycle)

Employees with a configured Work Cycle wake automatically on that schedule. See [Work Cycle](/en/cowork/digital-employees/configuracao-de-cron/cron-heartbeat).

## Typical transitions

| From                    | To               | Trigger                                |
| ----------------------- | ---------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Active                  | Running          | Manual invoke or Work Cycle wake       |
| Running                 | Active           | Run succeeds                           |
| Running                 | Error            | Run fails or stalls beyond recovery    |
| Any (except Terminated) | Paused           | You pause from the drawer              |
| Paused                  | Active           | You resume                             |
| Any                     | Pending approval | Hire review or run needs your decision |
| Pending approval        | Active           | You approve or dismiss as offered      |
| Any                     | Terminated       | You terminate from the drawer          |

## Tips

* Resolve **Pending approval** and **Error** before scaling headcount
* Pause instead of terminate when work is seasonal — resume when needed
* Use [Execution History](/en/cowork/digital-employees/historico-execucoes/execution-history) to confirm whether failures are one-off or recurring

## Next steps

* [Mission Control monitoring](/en/cowork/digital-employees/monitor-dashboard/monitor-dashboard)
* [Active employees on the Mesh](/en/cowork/digital-employees/visualizacao-ativos/active-agents-view)
* [Work Cycle](/en/cowork/digital-employees/configuracao-de-cron/cron-heartbeat)