diff --git a/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_cpu.py b/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_cpu.py
index 39de3a1b..380f8403 100644
--- a/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_cpu.py
+++ b/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_cpu.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 """
 CPU-heavy worker pool for audio processing tasks.
-Handles: mixdown_tracks (serialized), padding workflows (parallel child workflows)
+Handles: mixdown_tracks only (serialized with max_runs=1)
 
 Configuration:
-- slots=1: Mixdown serialized globally with max_runs=1
+- slots=1: Only one mixdown at a time
 - Worker affinity: pool=cpu-heavy
 """
 
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from reflector.hatchet.client import HatchetClientManager
 from reflector.hatchet.workflows.daily_multitrack_pipeline import (
     daily_multitrack_pipeline,
 )
-from reflector.hatchet.workflows.padding_workflow import padding_workflow
 from reflector.logger import logger
 from reflector.settings import settings
 
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ def main():
     hatchet = HatchetClientManager.get_client()
 
     logger.info(
-        "Starting Hatchet CPU worker pool (mixdown + padding)",
+        "Starting Hatchet CPU worker pool (mixdown only)",
         worker_name="cpu-worker-pool",
         slots=1,
         labels={"pool": "cpu-heavy"},
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ def main():
         labels={
             "pool": "cpu-heavy",
         },
-        workflows=[daily_multitrack_pipeline, padding_workflow],
+        workflows=[daily_multitrack_pipeline],
     )
 
     try:
diff --git a/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_llm.py b/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_llm.py
index a3b44bb8..ecec6906 100644
--- a/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_llm.py
+++ b/server/reflector/hatchet/run_workers_llm.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 """
 LLM/I/O worker pool for all non-CPU tasks.
-Handles: all tasks except mixdown_tracks (transcription, LLM inference, orchestration)
+Handles: all tasks except mixdown_tracks (padding, transcription, LLM inference, orchestration)
 """
 
 from reflector.hatchet.client import HatchetClientManager
 from reflector.hatchet.workflows.daily_multitrack_pipeline import (
     daily_multitrack_pipeline,
 )
+from reflector.hatchet.workflows.padding_workflow import padding_workflow
 from reflector.hatchet.workflows.subject_processing import subject_workflow
 from reflector.hatchet.workflows.topic_chunk_processing import topic_chunk_workflow
 from reflector.hatchet.workflows.transcription_workflow import transcription_workflow
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def main():
 
     llm_worker = hatchet.worker(
         WORKER_NAME,
-        slots=SLOTS,  # not all slots are probably used
+        slots=SLOTS,
         labels={
             "pool": POOL,
         },
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ def main():
             daily_multitrack_pipeline,
             topic_chunk_workflow,
             subject_workflow,
+            padding_workflow,
             transcription_workflow,
         ],
     )