diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesIntegrations.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesIntegrations.tsx
index c837246117..99cad95750 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesIntegrations.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesIntegrations.tsx
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import {
   Button,
   Card,
   Chip,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { PageSidecarPortal } from 'components/layout/PageLayout'
 import {
   DisplayButton,
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import Fuse, { type IFuseOptions } from 'fuse.js'
 import { useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { WORKBENCHES_TOOLS_CREATE_ABS_PATH } from 'routes/workbenchesRoutesConsts'
-import styled, { useTheme } from 'styled-components'
+import styled from 'styled-components'
 import {
   WORKBENCHES_TOOLS_PROVIDER_PARAM,
   WORKBENCHES_TOOLS_TYPE_PARAM,
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ const SEARCH_OPTIONS: IFuseOptions<WorkbenchToolCard> = {
   threshold: 0.25,
 }
 export function WorkbenchesIntegrations() {
-  const theme = useTheme()
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('')
   const [filtersVisible, setFiltersVisible] = useState(true)
   const [selectedCategories, setSelectedCategories] = useState<string[]>([])
@@ -135,23 +134,18 @@ export function WorkbenchesIntegrations() {
           minWidth={0}
         >
           {showEmptyState ? (
-            <Card
-              css={{
-                padding: theme.spacing.large,
-                ...(theme.mode === 'light' && {
-                  backgroundColor: theme.colors['fill-zero'],
-                }),
-              }}
+            <WorkbenchEmptyState
+              inset={false}
+              message="No tools match your filters"
+              description="Try a different search, or reset filters to see all tools."
             >
-              <EmptyState message="There are no results with these filters.">
-                <Button
-                  secondary
-                  onClick={resetSearchAndFilters}
-                >
-                  Reset filters
-                </Button>
-              </EmptyState>
-            </Card>
+              <Button
+                small
+                onClick={resetSearchAndFilters}
+              >
+                Reset filters
+              </Button>
+            </WorkbenchEmptyState>
           ) : (
             <CardGrid styles={workbenchToolCardGridStyles(280)}>
               {filteredCards.map(
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesList.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesList.tsx
index daffcda2de..da1d180d09 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesList.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/WorkbenchesList.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
-import {
-  AddIcon,
-  ArrowRightIcon,
-  Card,
-  EmptyState,
-  Flex,
-} from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { AddIcon, ArrowRightIcon, Card, Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import * as DesignSystem from '@pluralsh/design-system'
 import { useSetPageHeaderContent } from 'components/cd/ContinuousDeployment'
 import { ToolbarSearchInput } from 'components/layout/PageToolbar'
@@ -57,7 +52,6 @@ const WorkbenchIcon = (DesignSystem as { WorkbenchIcon?: ComponentType })
   .WorkbenchIcon
 
 export function WorkbenchesList() {
-  const theme = useTheme()
   const [searchString, setSearchString] = useState('')
   const debouncedSearchString = useThrottle(searchString, 200)
 
@@ -98,9 +92,11 @@ export function WorkbenchesList() {
           styles={workbenchToolCardGridStyles(WORKBENCH_CARD_MIN_WIDTH)}
         />
       ) : showSearchEmptyState ? (
-        <Card css={{ padding: theme.spacing.large }}>
-          <EmptyState message="No workbenches found" />
-        </Card>
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="No workbenches match your search"
+          description="Try a different name, or clear the search to see all workbenches."
+        />
       ) : (
         <CardGrid
           onBottomReached={() =>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchBoard.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchBoard.tsx
index 3e25736156..22733a0a56 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchBoard.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchBoard.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Button, EmptyState, Flex, Spinner } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { Button, Flex, Spinner } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
 import { isNil } from 'lodash'
 import {
   ReactNode,
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import styled, { DefaultTheme } from 'styled-components'
 
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState, WorkbenchEmptyText } from './WorkbenchEmptyState'
+
 // Shared building blocks for the workbench Board views (issues, jobs, alerts).
 
 type LoadMoreProps = {
@@ -138,14 +140,37 @@ export type EmptyListState = {
   onResetFilters: () => void
 }
 
-function emptyListMessage(
+function emptyListCopy(
   noun: string,
   { searching, filtered }: { searching: boolean; filtered: boolean }
 ) {
-  if (searching && filtered) return `No ${noun} match your search and filters.`
-  if (searching) return `No matching ${noun} found.`
-  if (filtered) return `No ${noun} match the current filters.`
-  return `No ${noun} found.`
+  if (searching && filtered)
+    return {
+      message: `No ${noun} match your search and filters`,
+      description: 'Try a different search, or reset filters.',
+    }
+  if (searching)
+    return {
+      message: `No ${noun} match your search`,
+      description: 'Try a different search term.',
+    }
+  if (filtered)
+    return {
+      message: `No ${noun} match your filters`,
+      description: `Reset filters to see all ${noun}.`,
+    }
+  return {
+    message: `No ${noun} yet`,
+    description:
+      UNFILTERED_EMPTY_DESCRIPTIONS[noun] ??
+      `${noun[0].toUpperCase()}${noun.slice(1)} will show up here.`,
+  }
+}
+
+const UNFILTERED_EMPTY_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
+  jobs: 'Jobs show up here when this workbench runs from a prompt, schedule, or trigger.',
+  alerts: 'Alerts routed to this workbench will show up here.',
+  issues: 'Issues routed to this workbench will show up here.',
 }
 
 // The empty (or first loading) state of a list, naming what emptied it.
@@ -153,28 +178,47 @@ export function BoardEmptyList({
   noun,
   loading,
   emptyState: { searching, filtered, onResetFilters },
+  sidebar = false,
 }: {
   noun: string
   loading: boolean
   emptyState: EmptyListState
+  // a narrow list column rather than a full board
+  sidebar?: boolean
 }) {
-  return loading ? (
-    <BoardCenteredSC>
-      <Spinner />
-    </BoardCenteredSC>
+  if (loading)
+    return (
+      <BoardCenteredSC>
+        <Spinner />
+      </BoardCenteredSC>
+    )
+
+  const { message, description } = emptyListCopy(noun, { searching, filtered })
+  // offers to reset the display filters, when they narrowed the list
+  const reset = filtered && (
+    <Button
+      small
+      onClick={onResetFilters}
+    >
+      Reset filters
+    </Button>
+  )
+
+  return sidebar ? (
+    <Flex
+      direction="column"
+      align="center"
+    >
+      <WorkbenchEmptyText>{message}</WorkbenchEmptyText>
+      {reset}
+    </Flex>
   ) : (
-    <EmptyState message={emptyListMessage(noun, { searching, filtered })}>
-      {/* offers to reset the display filters, when they narrowed the list */}
-      {filtered && (
-        <Button
-          small
-          secondary
-          onClick={onResetFilters}
-        >
-          Reset filters
-        </Button>
-      )}
-    </EmptyState>
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      message={message}
+      description={description}
+    >
+      {reset}
+    </WorkbenchEmptyState>
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da08e09a0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import { ReactNode } from 'react'
+import styled from 'styled-components'
+
+export function WorkbenchEmptyState({
+  message,
+  description,
+  children,
+  variant = 'card',
+  inset = true,
+  className,
+}: {
+  message: string
+  description?: ReactNode
+  children?: ReactNode
+  // 'plain' drops the card chrome, for use inside an existing card or panel
+  variant?: 'card' | 'plain'
+  // false when the parent already pads its content
+  inset?: boolean
+  className?: string
+}) {
+  return (
+    <OuterSC
+      $inset={inset}
+      className={className}
+    >
+      <CardSC $plain={variant === 'plain'}>
+        <MessageSC>{message}</MessageSC>
+        {description && <DescriptionSC>{description}</DescriptionSC>}
+        {children && <ActionsSC>{children}</ActionsSC>}
+      </CardSC>
+    </OuterSC>
+  )
+}
+
+// for narrow sidebars and columns, where a card would be too heavy
+export function WorkbenchEmptyText({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+  return <EmptyTextSC>{children}</EmptyTextSC>
+}
+
+const OuterSC = styled.div<{ $inset: boolean }>(({ theme, $inset }) => ({
+  display: 'flex',
+  flex: 1,
+  minHeight: 0,
+  ...($inset && { padding: theme.spacing.large }),
+}))
+
+const CardSC = styled.div<{ $plain: boolean }>(({ theme, $plain }) => ({
+  display: 'flex',
+  flex: 1,
+  flexDirection: 'column',
+  alignItems: 'center',
+  justifyContent: 'center',
+  minHeight: 0,
+  padding: theme.spacing.xlarge,
+  textAlign: 'center',
+  ...(!$plain && {
+    border: theme.borders.default,
+    borderRadius: theme.borderRadiuses.large,
+    backgroundColor: theme.colors['fill-one'],
+  }),
+}))
+
+const MessageSC = styled.p(({ theme }) => ({
+  ...theme.partials.text.body1Bold,
+  color: theme.colors.text,
+  margin: 0,
+}))
+
+const DescriptionSC = styled.p(({ theme }) => ({
+  ...theme.partials.text.body2,
+  color: theme.colors['text-light'],
+  margin: `${theme.spacing.xxsmall}px 0 0`,
+  maxWidth: 480,
+  overflowWrap: 'anywhere',
+  textWrap: 'pretty',
+}))
+
+const ActionsSC = styled.div(({ theme }) => ({
+  display: 'flex',
+  flexWrap: 'wrap',
+  justifyContent: 'center',
+  gap: theme.spacing.small,
+  marginTop: theme.spacing.medium,
+}))
+
+const EmptyTextSC = styled.p(({ theme }) => ({
+  ...theme.partials.text.body2,
+  color: theme.colors['text-xlight'],
+  margin: `${theme.spacing.large}px auto`,
+  padding: `0 ${theme.spacing.medium}px`,
+  textAlign: 'center',
+}))
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchIssuesBoard.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchIssuesBoard.tsx
index f70c5c3ad0..f32668a0a8 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchIssuesBoard.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchIssuesBoard.tsx
@@ -144,9 +144,7 @@ function IssueCard({
 function EmptyColumnCard() {
   return (
     <EmptyCardSC>
-      <EmptyCardTextSC>
-        No tickets available in this status yet.
-      </EmptyCardTextSC>
+      <EmptyCardTextSC>No issues in this status yet.</EmptyCardTextSC>
     </EmptyCardSC>
   )
 }
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/public/PublicWorkbenchDashboard.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/public/PublicWorkbenchDashboard.tsx
index 5562350c41..58361800fd 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/public/PublicWorkbenchDashboard.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/public/PublicWorkbenchDashboard.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { EmptyState, Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { TimeRangeControl } from 'components/utils/timerange/TimeRangeControl'
 import {
   DEFAULT_TIME_RANGE,
@@ -38,7 +39,10 @@ export function PublicWorkbenchDashboard() {
   if (error || !dashboard)
     return (
       <PageSC>
-        <EmptyState message="This dashboard isn't available" />
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          message="Dashboard unavailable"
+          description="This link may have expired, or the dashboard is no longer shared publicly."
+        />
       </PageSC>
     )
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/Workbench.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/Workbench.tsx
index 2bb45759aa..e8702f69fc 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/Workbench.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/Workbench.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import {
   BookmarkIcon,
   BotIcon,
   Button,
-  EmptyState,
   EventScheduleIcon,
   Flex,
   GearTrainIcon,
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   WebhooksIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
   useWorkbenchJobCountsQuery,
   WorkbenchJobStatus,
@@ -477,15 +477,19 @@ export function Workbench() {
 
   if (notFound)
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Workbench not found.">
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Workbench not found"
+        description="It may have been deleted, or you may not have access to it."
+      >
         <Button
+          small
           as={Link}
           to={WORKBENCHES_ABS_PATH}
           startIcon={<ReturnIcon />}
         >
           View all workbenches
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
+      </WorkbenchEmptyState>
     )
   if (error)
     return (
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchAlertsDetails.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchAlertsDetails.tsx
index 9b923920d9..649f985773 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchAlertsDetails.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchAlertsDetails.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { Chip, EmptyState } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { Chip } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
   getAlertAnnotations,
   getAlertSummary,
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ export function useWorkbenchAlertsDetails({
             noun="alerts"
             loading={loading}
             emptyState={emptyState}
+            sidebar
           />
         )}
         {alerts.map((alert) => (
@@ -207,7 +209,15 @@ export function useWorkbenchAlertsDetails({
     </DetailsListSC>
   )
 
-  const content = (
+  const content = !selected ? (
+    !loading && (
+      <BoardEmptyList
+        noun="alerts"
+        loading={false}
+        emptyState={emptyState}
+      />
+    )
+  ) : (
     <DetailsLayoutSC $panelCount={detailsOpen ? 2 : 1}>
       {selected && (
         <AlertConclusionPanel
@@ -431,13 +441,15 @@ function AlertDetailsPanel({
         {tab === 'Annotations' && (
           <KeyValueChips
             entries={getAlertAnnotations(alert)}
-            emptyMessage="No annotations."
+            emptyMessage="No annotations"
+            emptyDescription="This alert was sent without any annotations."
           />
         )}
         {tab === 'Tags' && (
           <KeyValueChips
             entries={getAlertTagEntries(alert)}
-            emptyMessage="No tags."
+            emptyMessage="No tags"
+            emptyDescription="This alert was sent without any tags."
           />
         )}
         {tab === 'All information' && (
@@ -513,11 +525,20 @@ function KeyValueCard({
 function KeyValueChips({
   entries,
   emptyMessage,
+  emptyDescription,
 }: {
   entries: [string, string][]
   emptyMessage: string
+  emptyDescription: string
 }) {
-  if (isEmpty(entries)) return <EmptyState message={emptyMessage} />
+  if (isEmpty(entries))
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message={emptyMessage}
+        description={emptyDescription}
+      />
+    )
 
   return (
     <ChipsSC>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchIssuesDetails.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchIssuesDetails.tsx
index 19ed61a73f..6014dabca6 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchIssuesDetails.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchIssuesDetails.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { EmptyState } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { getIssueWebhookProviderIcon } from 'components/settings/webhooks/webhookIcons'
 import { IssueStatusIcon } from 'components/workbenches/common/IssueStatusChip'
 import {
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ export function useWorkbenchIssuesDetails({
             noun="issues"
             loading={loading}
             emptyState={emptyState}
+            sidebar
           />
         ) : (
           issues.map((issue) => (
@@ -133,7 +134,15 @@ export function useWorkbenchIssuesDetails({
     </DetailsListSC>
   )
 
-  const content = (
+  const content = !selected ? (
+    !loading && (
+      <BoardEmptyList
+        noun="issues"
+        loading={false}
+        emptyState={emptyState}
+      />
+    )
+  ) : (
     <DetailsLayoutSC $panelCount={detailsOpen ? 2 : 1}>
       {selected &&
         (selectedJob ? (
@@ -149,7 +158,10 @@ export function useWorkbenchIssuesDetails({
             <DetailsPanelHeader title="Conclusion">
               {expandButton}
             </DetailsPanelHeader>
-            <EmptyState message="No job has been run for this issue yet." />
+            <WorkbenchEmptyState
+              message="No conclusion yet"
+              description="A conclusion will show up here once a job has run for this issue."
+            />
           </DetailsColumnSC>
         ))}
       {selected && detailsOpen && (
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchJobsDetails.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchJobsDetails.tsx
index b7c763e7ff..f50e2902be 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchJobsDetails.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/WorkbenchJobsDetails.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import {
   ArrowTopRightIcon,
   Chip,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   prettifyRepoUrl,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { prettifyPrompt } from 'components/utils/contentEditableChips'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
 import { StackedText } from 'components/utils/table/StackedText'
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ export function useWorkbenchJobsDetails({
             noun="jobs"
             loading={loading}
             emptyState={emptyState}
+            sidebar
           />
         ) : (
           jobs.map((job) => (
@@ -148,7 +149,15 @@ export function useWorkbenchJobsDetails({
     </DetailsListSC>
   )
 
-  const content = (
+  const content = !selected ? (
+    !loading && (
+      <BoardEmptyList
+        noun="jobs"
+        loading={false}
+        emptyState={emptyState}
+      />
+    )
+  ) : (
     <DetailsLayoutSC $panelCount={detailsOpen ? 2 : 1}>
       {selected && (
         <WorkbenchJobConclusionPanel
@@ -215,7 +224,11 @@ function WorkbenchJobDetailsPanel({
         </DetailsTabBodySC>
       ) : isEmpty(tabs) ? (
         <DetailsTabBodySC>
-          <EmptyState message="No job details available yet." />
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No job details yet"
+            description="Activity, actions, and results will show up here as the job runs."
+          />
         </DetailsTabBodySC>
       ) : (
         <>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/ChatbotForm.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/ChatbotForm.tsx
index 49bd789cd0..ec1df5d684 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/ChatbotForm.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/ChatbotForm.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import {
   AddIcon,
   Button,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   ListBoxFooter,
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   Select,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { useLogin } from 'components/contexts'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
@@ -240,14 +240,18 @@ export function ChatbotForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
 
   if (mode === 'edit' && !chatbotLoading && !chatbot)
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Chatbot not found">
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Chatbot not found"
+        description="It may have been removed from this workbench."
+      >
         <Button
+          small
           startIcon={<ReturnIcon />}
           onClick={() => navigate(getWorkbenchChatbotsAbsPath(workbenchId))}
         >
           Back to all chatbots
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
+      </WorkbenchEmptyState>
     )
 
   const isLoading =
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/Chatbots.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/Chatbots.tsx
index d57cd7c367..cf49af7d5d 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/Chatbots.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/chatbots/Chatbots.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import {
   ArrowTopRightIcon,
   Button,
-  Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   PencilIcon,
@@ -10,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   TrashCanIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { createColumnHelper } from '@tanstack/react-table'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { StretchedFlex } from 'components/utils/StretchedFlex'
@@ -141,42 +140,40 @@ export function Chatbots() {
           gap="xxsmall"
         />
         {!!data && isEmpty(chatbots) ? (
-          <Card>
-            <EmptyState
-              message="No chatbots created yet"
-              description={
-                hasExistingConnections
-                  ? 'No chatbots connected. Select an existing chatbot connection for this workbench.'
-                  : 'No chatbot connections configured. Create one in global chatbot settings before adding it to this workbench.'
-              }
-              css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 500 }}
-            >
-              <Flex gap="small">
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No chatbots yet"
+            description={
+              hasExistingConnections
+                ? 'Connect a chatbot so people can run this workbench from chat. Select an existing chatbot connection to get started.'
+                : 'There are no chatbot connections yet. Create one in chatbot settings, then add it to this workbench.'
+            }
+          >
+            <Flex gap="small">
+              <Button
+                small
+                secondary={hasExistingConnections}
+                onClick={() =>
+                  hasExistingConnections
+                    ? navigateToManageChatbots()
+                    : navigateToCreateChatbotConnection()
+                }
+                endIcon={<ArrowTopRightIcon />}
+              >
+                Manage chatbots
+              </Button>
+              {hasExistingConnections && (
                 <Button
                   small
-                  secondary={hasExistingConnections}
                   onClick={() =>
-                    hasExistingConnections
-                      ? navigateToManageChatbots()
-                      : navigateToCreateChatbotConnection()
+                    navigate(getWorkbenchChatbotCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
                   }
-                  endIcon={<ArrowTopRightIcon />}
                 >
-                  Manage chatbots
+                  Select existing chatbot
                 </Button>
-                {hasExistingConnections && (
-                  <Button
-                    small
-                    onClick={() =>
-                      navigate(getWorkbenchChatbotCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
-                    }
-                  >
-                    Select existing chatbot
-                  </Button>
-                )}
-              </Flex>
-            </EmptyState>
-          </Card>
+              )}
+            </Flex>
+          </WorkbenchEmptyState>
         ) : (
           <StretchedFlex
             direction="column"
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/KnowledgeSubStep.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/KnowledgeSubStep.tsx
index e2f85bedc3..61cb9d0a92 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/KnowledgeSubStep.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/KnowledgeSubStep.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import {
   Card,
   Chip,
   CodeEditor,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   IconFrame,
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   PencilIcon,
   TrashCanIcon,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useTheme } from 'styled-components'
 
@@ -199,13 +199,11 @@ export function KnowledgeSubStep({
       </CaptionP>
       <FormField label="Knowledge">
         {entries.length === 0 ? (
-          <Card css={{ border: 'none' }}>
-            <EmptyState
-              message="No knowledge yet"
-              description="Facts discovered in previous runs will appear here. Use them for system understanding, and remove entries that are stale or unused."
-              css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 580 }}
-            />
-          </Card>
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No knowledge yet"
+            description="Facts agents discover during runs will show up here. Remove entries when they go stale."
+          />
         ) : (
           <Card
             fillLevel={2}
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/PluralSkillsSubStep.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/PluralSkillsSubStep.tsx
index b146c39ab3..c527493320 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/PluralSkillsSubStep.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/PluralSkillsSubStep.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import {
   Chip,
   Select,
   SelectButton,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   CodeEditor,
   FormField,
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   PencilIcon,
   TrashCanIcon,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useTheme } from 'styled-components'
 
@@ -244,21 +244,19 @@ export function PluralSkillsSubStep({
       }
     >
       {skills.length === 0 ? (
-        <Card css={{ border: 'none' }}>
-          <EmptyState
-            message="No skills"
-            description="Skills teach Workbench agents what to do and how to do it. Add your first skill to get started, or connect a git repository to manage skills alongside your codebase."
-            css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 580 }}
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="No skills yet"
+          description="Skills teach workbench agents what to do and how to do it. Add your first skill, or connect a Git repository to manage skills alongside your codebase."
+        >
+          <Button
+            secondary
+            small
+            onClick={handleCreate}
           >
-            <Button
-              secondary
-              small
-              onClick={handleCreate}
-            >
-              Create new skill
-            </Button>
-          </EmptyState>
-        </Card>
+            Create new skill
+          </Button>
+        </WorkbenchEmptyState>
       ) : (
         <Card
           fillLevel={2}
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/WorkbenchFormSteps.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/WorkbenchFormSteps.tsx
index 7b9164726f..c6b11fb944 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/WorkbenchFormSteps.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/create-edit/WorkbenchFormSteps.tsx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ import {
 import { mapExistingNodes } from 'utils/graphql'
 import { isNonNullable } from 'utils/isNonNullable'
 
-import { EmptyStateCompact } from 'components/ai/AIThreads'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { FillLevelDiv } from 'components/utils/FillLevelDiv'
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
 import {
@@ -857,12 +857,13 @@ export function WorkbenchAttachToolsStep({
   }
 
   return tools.length === 0 ? (
-    <EmptyStateCompact
-      message="You have not set up any tools yet"
-      description="You can set up tools by clicking the button below. Tools can also be added later."
-      cssProps={{ '& *': { textWrap: 'pretty' } }}
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      inset={false}
+      message="No tools set up yet"
+      description="Tools give this workbench's agents access to your systems. You can also add them later."
     >
       <Button
+        small
         secondary
         endIcon={<ArrowTopRightIcon size={16} />}
         as={Link}
@@ -870,7 +871,7 @@ export function WorkbenchAttachToolsStep({
       >
         Set up tools
       </Button>
-    </EmptyStateCompact>
+    </WorkbenchEmptyState>
   ) : (
     <Flex
       direction="column"
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronScheduleForm.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronScheduleForm.tsx
index f6b50639d1..610c861b0d 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronScheduleForm.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronScheduleForm.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import {
   Button,
   Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   Input,
   ReturnIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { prettifyPrompt } from 'components/utils/contentEditableChips'
 import { useSimpleToast } from 'components/utils/SimpleToastContext'
@@ -194,8 +194,12 @@ export function CronScheduleForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
 
   if (mode === 'edit' && !cronLoading && !cron)
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Schedule not found">
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Schedule not found"
+        description="It may have been removed from this workbench."
+      >
         <Button
+          small
           startIcon={<ReturnIcon />}
           onClick={() =>
             navigate(getWorkbenchCronSchedulesAbsPath(workbenchId))
@@ -203,7 +207,7 @@ export function CronScheduleForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
         >
           Back to all schedules
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
+      </WorkbenchEmptyState>
     )
 
   const isLoading =
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronSchedules.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronSchedules.tsx
index 046fbbeadc..68988742ab 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronSchedules.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/crons/CronSchedules.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import {
   Button,
-  Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   PencilIcon,
@@ -9,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   TrashCanIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { createColumnHelper } from '@tanstack/react-table'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { StretchedFlex } from 'components/utils/StretchedFlex'
@@ -116,22 +115,20 @@ export function CronSchedules() {
           gap="xxsmall"
         />
         {!!data && isEmpty(crons) ? (
-          <Card>
-            <EmptyState
-              message="No schedules yet"
-              description="Create a schedule for the workbench with prompt."
-              css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 500 }}
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No schedules yet"
+            description="Schedules run this workbench with a prompt on a recurring basis."
+          >
+            <Button
+              small
+              onClick={() => {
+                navigate(getWorkbenchCronScheduleCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
+              }}
             >
-              <Button
-                small
-                onClick={() => {
-                  navigate(getWorkbenchCronScheduleCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
-                }}
-              >
-                Create new schedule
-              </Button>
-            </EmptyState>
-          </Card>
+              Create new schedule
+            </Button>
+          </WorkbenchEmptyState>
         ) : (
           <StretchedFlex
             direction="column"
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalSettings.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalSettings.tsx
index 48b319ef52..c2c31b63f4 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalSettings.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalSettings.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import {
   Button,
   CodeEditor,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   Input,
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   Switch,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
 import { useSimpleToast } from 'components/utils/SimpleToastContext'
@@ -118,7 +118,12 @@ export function WorkbenchEvalSettings() {
   )
 
   if (!workbenchId || error?.message?.includes('could not find resource')) {
-    return <EmptyState message="Workbench not found." />
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Workbench not found"
+        description="It may have been deleted, or you may not have access to it."
+      />
+    )
   }
 
   if (evalError) return <GqlError error={evalError} />
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvals.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvals.tsx
index 18446af01c..499647fc33 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvals.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvals.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import {
   Button,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   HamburgerMenuCollapsedIcon,
   HamburgerMenuCollapseIcon,
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   Tab,
   TabList,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import {
   Link,
@@ -149,14 +149,10 @@ export function WorkbenchEvals() {
       ) : (
         <EvalsContentSC>
           {!selectedEvalRow ? (
-            <Flex
-              align="center"
-              flex={1}
-              justify="center"
-              minHeight={0}
-            >
-              <EmptyState message="No evals available yet." />
-            </Flex>
+            <WorkbenchEmptyState
+              message="No evals yet"
+              description="Evals grade finished jobs. Results will show up here once a job has been evaluated."
+            />
           ) : (
             <ColumnsSC $qualityCollapsed={qualityBreakdownCollapsed}>
               <PanelSC $trimRightBorder={qualityBreakdownCollapsed}>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalsSidePanel.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalsSidePanel.tsx
index 67cd550834..53d7d8cd67 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalsSidePanel.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/evals/WorkbenchEvalsSidePanel.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { Chip, Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyText } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { type ComponentProps, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import styled, { useTheme } from 'styled-components'
 import { WorkbenchStoredPromptMarkdown } from '../WorkbenchStoredPromptMarkdown'
-import { Body2P } from 'components/utils/typography/Text'
 import {
   evalGradeToCategory,
   EvalGradeCategory,
@@ -153,14 +153,11 @@ export function WorkbenchEvalsSidePanel({
             )}
           />
         ) : (
-          <Body2P
-            $color="text-xlight"
-            css={{ margin: `${theme.spacing.large}px auto` }}
-          >
+          <WorkbenchEmptyText>
             {activeFilter === 'all'
-              ? 'No evals available yet.'
-              : 'No evals available for this filter.'}
-          </Body2P>
+              ? 'No evals yet. Graded jobs will show up here.'
+              : 'No evals match this filter.'}
+          </WorkbenchEmptyText>
         )}
       </Flex>
     </Flex>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileTree.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileTree.tsx
index 807f39adf3..fc1c491ad7 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileTree.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileTree.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   Tooltip,
   TrashCanIcon,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyText } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
   FileTypeIcon,
   fileTreeMuiTheme,
@@ -153,10 +154,14 @@ function DirectoryEntries({
       />
     )
   if (!files?.length)
-    return (
+    return path === '/' ? (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyText>
+        No files yet. Attachments and agent outputs will show up here.
+      </WorkbenchEmptyText>
+    ) : (
       <StatusItem
         path={path}
-        label="Empty"
+        label="Empty folder"
       />
     )
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileViewer.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileViewer.tsx
index 28d926905c..4064f31f21 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileViewer.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFileViewer.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import {
   Button,
   Code,
   DownloadIcon,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   CopyIcon,
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 } from 'utils/file'
 import { WORKBENCH_FILES_HEADER_HEIGHT } from './WorkbenchFileTree'
 import { basename, workbenchFileDownloadUrl } from './workbenchFilePaths'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from '../../common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 
 // text previews come back through graphql, so anything larger is download-only
 const PREVIEW_LIMIT = 1024 * 1024
@@ -79,22 +79,28 @@ export function WorkbenchFileViewer({
     )
   if (!file)
     return (
-      <EmptyState
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
         message="File not found"
         description={path}
       />
     )
   if (file.kind === WorkbenchFileKind.Directory)
-    return <EmptyState message="Select a file to view it" />
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="No file selected"
+        description="Select a file from the list to view it."
+      />
+    )
 
   const downloadUrl = workbenchFileDownloadUrl(file.downloadUrl)
   const unavailable = (description: string) => (
-    <EmptyState
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      inset={false}
       message="Preview unavailable"
       description={description}
     >
       {downloadUrl && <DownloadButton href={downloadUrl} />}
-    </EmptyState>
+    </WorkbenchEmptyState>
   )
 
   let body: ReactNode
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFiles.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFiles.tsx
index b82ad47c9d..2e49554ef8 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFiles.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/files/WorkbenchFiles.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { EmptyState } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
 import { WorkbenchFileFragment } from 'generated/graphql'
 import { useState } from 'react'
@@ -7,6 +6,7 @@ import { WORKBENCH_FILES_PATH_QUERY_PARAM } from 'routes/workbenchesRoutesConsts
 import { WorkbenchOutletContext, WorkbenchPageLayout } from '../Workbench'
 import { WorkbenchFileTree } from './WorkbenchFileTree'
 import { WorkbenchFileViewer } from './WorkbenchFileViewer'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from '../../common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { DeleteWorkbenchFileModal } from './DeleteWorkbenchFileModal'
 import { toWorkbenchPath } from './workbenchFilePaths'
 
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ export function WorkbenchFiles() {
   if (!isLoading && workbench && !workbench.filesystemEnabled)
     return (
       <WorkbenchPageLayout>
-        <EmptyState
-          message="The workbench filesystem isn't enabled"
-          description="Configure an object store for the console to give workbenches a filesystem."
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          message="Filesystem isn't enabled"
+          description="Configure an object store for the console to give workbenches a shared filesystem."
         />
       </WorkbenchPageLayout>
     )
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ export function WorkbenchFiles() {
           onDelete={setToDelete}
         />
       ) : (
-        <EmptyState
-          message="Select a file to view it"
-          description="Files written by agents and attached to prompts are stored here."
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          message="No files yet"
+          description="Outputs will show here when agents output artifacts."
         />
       )}
       <DeleteWorkbenchFileModal
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJob.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJob.tsx
index cf419ce750..d3e9125f57 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJob.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJob.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import {
   Button,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   SidePanelOpenIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { RunStatusIcon } from 'components/ai/agent-runs/AgentRunInfoDisplays'
 import { POLL_INTERVAL } from 'components/cd/ContinuousDeployment'
 import { useSidePanelWidth } from 'components/layout/TopLevelSidePanel'
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ export function WorkbenchJob() {
   if (!(job || loading))
     return !jobId ||
       queryError?.message?.includes('could not find resource') ? (
-      <EmptyState message="Workbench job not found." />
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Job not found"
+        description="This job may have been deleted, or the link is out of date."
+      />
     ) : (
       <GqlError
         header="Failed to load workbench job"
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobActions.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobActions.tsx
index 163ed8e787..9a43bf670d 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobActions.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobActions.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { EmptyState, Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { Flex } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { POLL_INTERVAL } from 'components/cd/ContinuousDeployment'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { TableSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
@@ -70,7 +71,13 @@ export function WorkbenchJobActions({ jobId }: { jobId: string }) {
   }
 
   if (isEmpty(sections)) {
-    return <EmptyState message="No actions for this job yet." />
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message="No actions yet"
+        description="Actions the agent takes during this job will show up here."
+      />
+    )
   }
 
   return (
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobUsage.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobUsage.tsx
index bd2e82d425..949ce9cbc5 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobUsage.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/job/WorkbenchJobUsage.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
-import {
-  Card,
-  Divider,
-  EmptyState,
-  Flex,
-  ProgressBar,
-} from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { Card, Divider, Flex, ProgressBar } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
   Body1P,
   Body2BoldP,
@@ -47,7 +42,13 @@ export function WorkbenchJobUsage({
     )
 
   if (!hasUsage) {
-    return <EmptyState message="No usage data reported for this job." />
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message="No usage data"
+        description="This job didn't report any token usage or cost."
+      />
+    )
   }
 
   return (
@@ -112,9 +113,11 @@ function TokenBreakdown({
 
   if (!hasAnyTokens) {
     return (
-      <Card>
-        <EmptyState message="Token usage is not available for this job." />
-      </Card>
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message="Token usage unavailable"
+        description="This job didn't report token counts."
+      />
     )
   }
 
@@ -217,9 +220,11 @@ function CostBreakdown({
 
   if (!hasAnyCost) {
     return (
-      <Card>
-        <EmptyState message="Cost cannot be estimated for this job. Token usage is still available." />
-      </Card>
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message="Cost unavailable"
+        description="Cost can't be estimated for this job, but token usage is still available."
+      />
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardDetail.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardDetail.tsx
index 59dc500bc2..690bf637f8 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardDetail.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardDetail.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import {
-  EmptyState,
   ExpandIcon,
   Flex,
   HamburgerMenuCollapsedIcon,
   IconFrame,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
 import { CaptionP } from 'components/utils/typography/Text'
@@ -73,7 +73,10 @@ export function DashboardDetail({
   if (!dashboard)
     return (
       <MainSC>
-        <EmptyState message="Dashboard not found." />
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          message="Dashboard not found"
+          description="It may have been deleted from this workbench."
+        />
       </MainSC>
     )
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardPanels.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardPanels.tsx
index 60fa70278b..3b03ad2815 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardPanels.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchDashboardPanels.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import {
   Card,
   CloseIcon,
   DocsIcon,
-  EmptyState,
   ExpandIcon,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   ModalWrapper,
   Tooltip,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { ChatMarkdown } from 'components/ai/chatbot/ChatMarkdown'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { MetricsSection } from 'components/utils/metrics/MetricsSection'
@@ -100,9 +100,11 @@ export function WorkbenchDashboardPanels(props: DashboardPanelsProps) {
 
   if (graphs.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <Card css={{ padding: 24 }}>
-        <EmptyState message="No panels yet." />
-      </Card>
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        inset={false}
+        message="No panels yet"
+        description="Panels added to this dashboard will show up here."
+      />
     )
   }
 
@@ -143,7 +145,11 @@ function DashboardSection({
       {props.graphs.length > 0 ? (
         <DashboardGraphGrid {...props} />
       ) : (
-        <EmptyState message="No panels in this section." />
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="No panels in this section"
+          description="Panels added to this section will show up here."
+        />
       )}
     </MetricsSection>
   )
@@ -393,7 +399,12 @@ function DataDashboardPanel({
       </PanelHeaderSC>
       <PanelBodySC aria-busy={loading}>
         {!graph.hasDatasource ? (
-          <EmptyState message="This panel has no data source." />
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            variant="plain"
+            inset={false}
+            message="No data source"
+            description="Connect a data source to this panel to see data."
+          />
         ) : dashboardPanelIsWaitingForData({
             queriesEnabled,
             loading,
@@ -403,7 +414,12 @@ function DataDashboardPanel({
         ) : error && !data ? (
           readOnly &&
           /not available on public dashboards/i.test(error.message) ? (
-            <EmptyState message="Not available on public dashboards" />
+            <WorkbenchEmptyState
+              variant="plain"
+              inset={false}
+              message="Not available on public dashboards"
+              description="This panel's data can only be viewed while signed in."
+            />
           ) : (
             <GqlError
               error={error}
@@ -737,7 +753,14 @@ function TableContent({
 }
 
 function NoDataState() {
-  return <EmptyState message="No data for this filter and range." />
+  return (
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      variant="plain"
+      inset={false}
+      message="No data"
+      description="Nothing matched this filter and time range."
+    />
+  )
 }
 
 function hasUnit(unit: Nullable<DashboardGraphUnit>) {
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorDetail.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorDetail.tsx
index 35fe1c856a..ec9fa4ccc9 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorDetail.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorDetail.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import {
   Chip,
   ChipSeverity,
   DocsIcon,
-  EmptyState,
   ErrorIcon,
   ExpandIcon,
   Flex,
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   Tooltip,
   useResizeObserver,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { Line } from '@nivo/line'
 import { RunStatusIcon } from 'components/ai/agent-runs/AgentRunInfoDisplays'
 import { POLL_INTERVAL } from 'components/cd/ContinuousDeployment'
@@ -160,7 +160,10 @@ export function MonitorDetail({
   if (!monitor)
     return (
       <MainSC>
-        <EmptyState message="Monitor not found." />
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          message="Monitor not found"
+          description="It may have been deleted from this workbench."
+        />
       </MainSC>
     )
 
@@ -447,7 +450,12 @@ function MonitorThresholdChart({
 
   if (!isLog) {
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Threshold preview is available for log monitors with a linked service." />
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        variant="plain"
+        inset={false}
+        message="Threshold preview unavailable"
+        description="Previews are only available for log monitors with a linked service."
+      />
     )
   }
 
@@ -531,9 +539,13 @@ function MetricsThresholdPreview({
   if (error && !data) return <GqlError error={error} />
   if (isEmpty(graphData[0].data))
     return (
-      <EmptyState
-        message="No metric data found for this query."
-        description={emptyDescription}
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        variant="plain"
+        inset={false}
+        message="No metric data"
+        description={
+          emptyDescription ?? 'This query returned no data for the time range.'
+        }
       />
     )
 
@@ -664,7 +676,14 @@ function LogThresholdPreview({
     )
   if (error && !data) return <GqlError error={error} />
   if (isEmpty(graphData[0].data))
-    return <EmptyState message="No log data found for this query." />
+    return (
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        variant="plain"
+        inset={false}
+        message="No log data"
+        description="This query returned no logs for the time range."
+      />
+    )
 
   return (
     <GraphWrapperSC ref={chartRef}>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorSettings.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorSettings.tsx
index 59b2b04541..cfa7ecba27 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorSettings.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitorSettings.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import {
   Button,
   Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   ReturnIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
   getMonitorFormStepIcon,
   isMonitorFormValid,
@@ -91,7 +91,11 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitorSettings() {
   if (!monitor)
     return (
       <PageSC>
-        <EmptyState message="Monitor not found." />
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="Monitor not found"
+          description="It may have been deleted from this workbench."
+        />
       </PageSC>
     )
 
@@ -99,8 +103,13 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitorSettings() {
     return (
       <PageSC>
         <Title2H1 css={{ marginBottom: 16 }}>{monitor.name}</Title2H1>
-        <EmptyState message="Manual settings are only available for log monitors.">
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="Settings unavailable"
+          description="Manual settings are only available for log monitors."
+        >
           <Button
+            small
             as={Link}
             to={getWorkbenchMonitoringMonitorAbsPath({
               workbenchId,
@@ -110,7 +119,7 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitorSettings() {
           >
             Back to monitor
           </Button>
-        </EmptyState>
+        </WorkbenchEmptyState>
       </PageSC>
     )
 
@@ -118,8 +127,13 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitorSettings() {
     return (
       <PageSC>
         <Title2H1 css={{ marginBottom: 16 }}>{monitor.name}</Title2H1>
-        <EmptyState message="This monitor is missing a service binding, so log settings cannot be edited here.">
+        <WorkbenchEmptyState
+          inset={false}
+          message="Settings unavailable"
+          description="This monitor isn't linked to a service, so its log settings can't be edited here."
+        >
           <Button
+            small
             as={Link}
             to={getWorkbenchMonitoringMonitorAbsPath({
               workbenchId,
@@ -129,7 +143,7 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitorSettings() {
           >
             Back to monitor
           </Button>
-        </EmptyState>
+        </WorkbenchEmptyState>
       </PageSC>
     )
 
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoring.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoring.tsx
index 2f47c75cb2..f9401141b5 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoring.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoring.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
-import { Card, EmptyState } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { AddIcon, Button } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import {
+  useWorkbenchDashboardsQuery,
   useWorkbenchMonitoringDashboardQuery,
   useWorkbenchMonitorQuery,
+  useWorkbenchMonitorsQuery,
 } from 'generated/graphql'
+import { isEmpty } from 'lodash'
 import { useMemo, useState } from 'react'
-import { useOutletContext, useParams } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { useNavigate, useOutletContext, useParams } from 'react-router-dom'
 import {
+  getWorkbenchMonitoringDashboardCreateAbsPath,
+  getWorkbenchMonitoringMonitorCreateAbsPath,
   WORKBENCH_MONITORING_DASHBOARD_PARAM_ID,
   WORKBENCH_MONITORING_MONITOR_PARAM_ID,
   WORKBENCHES_CREATE_REL_PATH,
@@ -114,11 +120,7 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitoring() {
             />
           )
         ) : (
-          <PaddedSC>
-            <Card css={{ padding: 24 }}>
-              <EmptyState message="Select a dashboard or monitor to view details." />
-            </Card>
-          </PaddedSC>
+          <MonitoringEmptyState workbenchId={workbenchId} />
         )}
       </DetailSC>
       {updateTarget && (
@@ -134,6 +136,57 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitoring() {
   )
 }
 
+function MonitoringEmptyState({ workbenchId }: { workbenchId: string }) {
+  const navigate = useNavigate()
+  const variables = { id: workbenchId, first: 1 }
+  const { data: dashboardsData } = useWorkbenchDashboardsQuery({
+    variables,
+    fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
+  })
+  const { data: monitorsData } = useWorkbenchMonitorsQuery({
+    variables,
+    fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
+  })
+
+  if (!dashboardsData || !monitorsData) return null
+
+  const hasAny =
+    !isEmpty(dashboardsData.workbench?.workbenchDashboards?.edges) ||
+    !isEmpty(monitorsData.workbench?.monitors?.edges)
+
+  return hasAny ? (
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      message="Nothing selected"
+      description="Select a dashboard or monitor from the list to view it."
+    />
+  ) : (
+    <WorkbenchEmptyState
+      message="No dashboards or monitors yet"
+      description="Dashboards chart this workbench's metrics, logs, and traces. Monitors watch a query and alert when it crosses a threshold."
+    >
+      <Button
+        small
+        startIcon={<AddIcon />}
+        onClick={() =>
+          navigate(getWorkbenchMonitoringDashboardCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
+        }
+      >
+        Add dashboard
+      </Button>
+      <Button
+        small
+        secondary
+        startIcon={<AddIcon />}
+        onClick={() =>
+          navigate(getWorkbenchMonitoringMonitorCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
+        }
+      >
+        Add monitor
+      </Button>
+    </WorkbenchEmptyState>
+  )
+}
+
 const DetailSC = styled.div({
   display: 'flex',
   flexDirection: 'column',
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoringSidebar.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoringSidebar.tsx
index 736bc15be0..c1dea956f0 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoringSidebar.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/monitoring/WorkbenchMonitoringSidebar.tsx
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ import {
   Button,
   CheckIcon,
   CloseIcon,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   Input,
   SearchIcon,
   TrashCanIcon,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyText } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { useThrottle } from 'components/hooks/useThrottle'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
@@ -146,7 +146,9 @@ export function WorkbenchMonitoringSidebar({
       <GroupsSC>
         {showNoMatches ? (
           <NoMatchesSC>
-            <EmptyState message={`No results for "${trimmedFilter}".`} />
+            <WorkbenchEmptyText>
+              No dashboards or monitors match “{trimmedFilter}”.
+            </WorkbenchEmptyText>
           </NoMatchesSC>
         ) : (
           <>
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPromptForm.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPromptForm.tsx
index 293179b301..0cb78fc102 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPromptForm.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPromptForm.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import {
   Button,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   Input,
   ReturnIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { useSimpleToast } from 'components/utils/SimpleToastContext'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
@@ -153,14 +153,18 @@ export function SavedPromptForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
 
   if (mode === 'edit' && !promptsLoading && !savedPrompt)
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Saved prompt not found">
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Saved prompt not found"
+        description="It may have been removed from this workbench."
+      >
         <Button
+          small
           startIcon={<ReturnIcon />}
           onClick={() => navigate(getWorkbenchSavedPromptsAbsPath(workbenchId))}
         >
           Back to all saved prompts
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
+      </WorkbenchEmptyState>
     )
 
   const isLoading =
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPrompts.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPrompts.tsx
index 3ff601eccd..c27fe2ca9c 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPrompts.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/prompts/SavedPrompts.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import {
   ArrowUpIcon,
   Button,
-  Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   PencilIcon,
@@ -10,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   TrashCanIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { createColumnHelper } from '@tanstack/react-table'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { prettifyPrompt } from 'components/utils/contentEditableChips'
@@ -144,22 +143,20 @@ export function SavedPrompts() {
         css={{ maxWidth: 750 }}
       >
         {!!data && isEmpty(prompts) ? (
-          <Card>
-            <EmptyState
-              message="No saved prompts yet"
-              description="Create reusable prompts for this workbench."
-              css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 500 }}
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No saved prompts yet"
+            description="Save prompts you run often so you can reuse them on this workbench."
+          >
+            <Button
+              small
+              onClick={() => {
+                navigate(getWorkbenchSavedPromptCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
+              }}
             >
-              <Button
-                small
-                onClick={() => {
-                  navigate(getWorkbenchSavedPromptCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
-                }}
-              >
-                Add saved prompt
-              </Button>
-            </EmptyState>
-          </Card>
+              Add saved prompt
+            </Button>
+          </WorkbenchEmptyState>
         ) : (
           <StretchedFlex
             direction="column"
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggerForm.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggerForm.tsx
index d91372b63a..b834abd6b3 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggerForm.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggerForm.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import {
   Button,
   Checkbox,
   Chip,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   FormField,
   Input,
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   VisualInspectionIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { RectangleSkeleton } from 'components/utils/SkeletonLoaders'
 import { useSimpleToast } from 'components/utils/SimpleToastContext'
@@ -333,8 +333,12 @@ export function WebhookTriggerForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
 
   if (mode === 'edit' && !fetchWorkbenchWebhookState.loading && !webhook)
     return (
-      <EmptyState message="Webhook trigger not found">
+      <WorkbenchEmptyState
+        message="Webhook trigger not found"
+        description="It may have been removed from this workbench."
+      >
         <Button
+          small
           startIcon={<ReturnIcon />}
           onClick={() =>
             navigate(getWorkbenchWebhookTriggersAbsPath(workbenchId))
@@ -342,7 +346,7 @@ export function WebhookTriggerForm({ mode }: { mode: 'create' | 'edit' }) {
         >
           Back to all webhooks
         </Button>
-      </EmptyState>
+      </WorkbenchEmptyState>
     )
 
   const isLoading =
diff --git a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggers.tsx b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggers.tsx
index 0d9a49ab45..73a55e0b0b 100644
--- a/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggers.tsx
+++ b/js/console/src/components/workbenches/workbench/webhooks/WebhookTriggers.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import {
   ArrowTopRightIcon,
   Button,
-  Card,
-  EmptyState,
   Flex,
   IconFrame,
   PencilIcon,
@@ -10,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   TrashCanIcon,
   useSetBreadcrumbs,
 } from '@pluralsh/design-system'
+import { WorkbenchEmptyState } from 'components/workbenches/common/WorkbenchEmptyState'
 import { createColumnHelper } from '@tanstack/react-table'
 import { GqlError } from 'components/utils/Alert'
 import { StretchedFlex } from 'components/utils/StretchedFlex'
@@ -124,34 +123,30 @@ export function WebhookTriggers() {
           gap="xxsmall"
         />
         {!!data && isEmpty(webhooks) ? (
-          <Card>
-            <EmptyState
-              message="No webhooks yet"
-              description="No webhook connected. Select an existing webhook or manage webhook integrations in settings."
-              css={{ margin: '0 auto', width: 500 }}
-            >
-              <Flex gap="small">
-                <Button
-                  small
-                  secondary
-                  endIcon={<ArrowTopRightIcon />}
-                  onClick={() => navigate(WEBHOOKS_SETTINGS_ABS_PATH)}
-                >
-                  Manage webhooks
-                </Button>
-                <Button
-                  small
-                  onClick={() =>
-                    navigate(
-                      getWorkbenchWebhookTriggerCreateAbsPath(workbenchId)
-                    )
-                  }
-                >
-                  Select existing webhook
-                </Button>
-              </Flex>
-            </EmptyState>
-          </Card>
+          <WorkbenchEmptyState
+            inset={false}
+            message="No webhooks yet"
+            description="Connect a webhook to trigger this workbench from external events. Select an existing webhook, or manage webhook integrations in settings."
+          >
+            <Flex gap="small">
+              <Button
+                small
+                secondary
+                endIcon={<ArrowTopRightIcon />}
+                onClick={() => navigate(WEBHOOKS_SETTINGS_ABS_PATH)}
+              >
+                Manage webhooks
+              </Button>
+              <Button
+                small
+                onClick={() =>
+                  navigate(getWorkbenchWebhookTriggerCreateAbsPath(workbenchId))
+                }
+              >
+                Select existing webhook
+              </Button>
+            </Flex>
+          </WorkbenchEmptyState>
         ) : (
           <StretchedFlex
             direction="column"