diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6d8a9a8..b9c57b2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 - Dark mode support across admin and frontend CSS.
 - Granular permission tables and seeder on activation.
 - "Powered by Escalated" badge with admin toggle.
+- Workflow `delay` action — pauses a workflow run for N seconds and resumes the remaining actions via a per-minute WP-Cron sweep. Backed by a new `escalated_deferred_workflow_jobs` table with a composite `(status, run_at)` index for efficient polling. Existing installs need to reactivate the plugin to pick up the new table.
 
 ### Changed
 - License changed from GPL-2.0-or-later to MIT.
diff --git a/includes/Cron/class-deferred-workflow-jobs-check.php b/includes/Cron/class-deferred-workflow-jobs-check.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ead7e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/includes/Cron/class-deferred-workflow-jobs-check.php
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Escalated\Cron;
+
+use Escalated\Services\WorkflowExecutorService;
+
+/**
+ * Runs once per minute via WP-Cron to pick up pending
+ * DeferredWorkflowJob rows whose wait has elapsed and resume their
+ * remaining_actions. Flips each row's status to `done` / `failed`
+ * after execution so it's never re-picked up.
+ *
+ * Host apps with a misconfigured scheduler (DISABLE_WP_CRON without a
+ * system cron replacement) will see delay actions pile up as `pending`
+ * indefinitely.
+ */
+class Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check
+{
+    /**
+     * Register the cron hook.
+     */
+    public function register(): void
+    {
+        add_action('escalated_run_due_deferred_workflow_jobs', [$this, 'run']);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Dispatch all pending deferred workflow jobs whose run_at has elapsed.
+     */
+    public function run(): void
+    {
+        $service = new WorkflowExecutorService;
+        $service->run_due_deferred_jobs();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/includes/Models/DeferredWorkflowJob.php b/includes/Models/DeferredWorkflowJob.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83f710e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/includes/Models/DeferredWorkflowJob.php
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Escalated\Models;
+
+use Escalated\Escalated;
+
+/**
+ * Queue row for a paused workflow run — populated by the `delay`
+ * workflow action when execution hits a wait clause, consumed by
+ * Escalated\Cron\Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check to resume.
+ *
+ * Rows are soft-terminal: the cron handler flips `status` to `done`
+ * (or `failed`) after running so they don't get re-picked up, and
+ * retains the row for audit.
+ *
+ * Mirrors escalated-nestjs/src/entities/deferred-workflow-job.entity.ts.
+ */
+class DeferredWorkflowJob
+{
+    /**
+     * Get the table name.
+     *
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public static function table()
+    {
+        return Escalated::table('deferred_workflow_jobs');
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Find a row by ID.
+     *
+     * @param  int  $id
+     * @return object|null
+     */
+    public static function find($id)
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $table = static::table();
+
+        return $wpdb->get_row(
+            $wpdb->prepare("SELECT * FROM {$table} WHERE id = %d", $id)
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Create a new deferred job row. `remaining_actions` is JSON-encoded
+     * by the caller so consumers can decode + re-dispatch.
+     *
+     * @return int|false Inserted ID or false on failure.
+     */
+    public static function create(array $data)
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $table = static::table();
+        $now = current_time('mysql');
+
+        $data['created_at'] = $now;
+        $data['updated_at'] = $now;
+        $data['status'] = $data['status'] ?? 'pending';
+
+        $result = $wpdb->insert($table, $data);
+
+        return $result !== false ? $wpdb->insert_id : false;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Update a row.
+     *
+     * @param  int  $id
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public static function update($id, array $data)
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $table = static::table();
+
+        $data['updated_at'] = current_time('mysql');
+
+        return $wpdb->update($table, $data, ['id' => $id]) !== false;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Fetch every `pending` row whose `run_at` has elapsed.
+     *
+     * `run_at` is stored in UTC (written via `gmdate` in
+     * {@see WorkflowExecutorService::schedule_delay}), so we compare
+     * against GMT here regardless of WordPress's configured timezone.
+     *
+     * @return array<object>
+     */
+    public static function pending(): array
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $table = static::table();
+        $now_gmt = current_time('mysql', true);
+
+        return $wpdb->get_results(
+            $wpdb->prepare(
+                "SELECT * FROM {$table} WHERE status = %s AND run_at <= %s ORDER BY run_at ASC",
+                'pending',
+                $now_gmt
+            )
+        ) ?: [];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/includes/Services/WorkflowExecutorService.php b/includes/Services/WorkflowExecutorService.php
index ecd532a..1d32d99 100644
--- a/includes/Services/WorkflowExecutorService.php
+++ b/includes/Services/WorkflowExecutorService.php
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 namespace Escalated\Services;
 
+use Escalated\Models\DeferredWorkflowJob;
 use Escalated\Models\Reply;
 use Escalated\Models\Tag;
+use Escalated\Models\Ticket;
 
 /**
  * Performs the side-effects dictated by a matched Workflow.
@@ -13,10 +15,15 @@
  * dispatches each entry to the relevant service.
  *
  * Action catalog: change_priority, change_status, assign_agent,
- * set_department, add_tag, remove_tag, add_note, insert_canned_reply.
- * Mirrors the NestJS reference impl in
+ * set_department, add_tag, remove_tag, add_note, insert_canned_reply,
+ * delay. Mirrors the NestJS reference impl in
  * escalated-nestjs/src/services/workflow-executor.service.ts.
  *
+ * `delay` splits a run into two halves: everything before the delay
+ * runs inline, everything after is persisted as a DeferredWorkflowJob
+ * row and picked up by Escalated\Cron\Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check
+ * once the wait expires.
+ *
  * One failing action never halts the others — matches NestJS. Unknown
  * action types warn-log (via error_log when WP_DEBUG) and skip.
  */
@@ -46,7 +53,15 @@ public function __construct(
     public function execute(object $ticket, ?string $actions_json): array
     {
         $actions = $this->parse_actions($actions_json);
-        foreach ($actions as $action) {
+        $count = count($actions);
+        for ($i = 0; $i < $count; $i++) {
+            $action = $actions[$i];
+            if (($action['type'] ?? '') === 'delay') {
+                $remaining = array_slice($actions, $i + 1);
+                $this->schedule_delay($ticket, (string) ($action['value'] ?? ''), $remaining);
+
+                return $actions;
+            }
             try {
                 $this->dispatch($ticket, $action);
             } catch (\Throwable $e) {
@@ -57,6 +72,73 @@ public function execute(object $ticket, ?string $actions_json): array
         return $actions;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Persist remaining actions to the deferred-jobs queue with
+     * run_at = now + $seconds. Logs a warning + skips when the value
+     * isn't a positive integer. Mirrors NestJS scheduleDelay.
+     *
+     * @param  array<int,array<string,mixed>>  $remaining
+     */
+    protected function schedule_delay(object $ticket, string $value, array $remaining): void
+    {
+        $seconds = (int) $value;
+        if (! ctype_digit($value) || $seconds <= 0) {
+            $this->log_debug(sprintf(
+                'delay: invalid seconds value "%s", skipping remaining actions',
+                $value
+            ));
+
+            return;
+        }
+        $run_at = gmdate('Y-m-d H:i:s', time() + $seconds);
+        DeferredWorkflowJob::create([
+            'ticket_id' => (int) $ticket->id,
+            'remaining_actions' => wp_json_encode($remaining),
+            'run_at' => $run_at,
+            'status' => 'pending',
+        ]);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Dispatch every pending deferred job whose `run_at` has elapsed.
+     *
+     * For each row, re-loads the ticket, re-invokes execute() with the
+     * stored remaining_actions JSON, and flips status to `done` /
+     * `failed`. Called by Cron\Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check.
+     *
+     * @return array{processed:int,failed:int}
+     */
+    public function run_due_deferred_jobs(): array
+    {
+        $processed = 0;
+        $failed = 0;
+        foreach (DeferredWorkflowJob::pending() as $job) {
+            try {
+                $ticket = Ticket::find((int) $job->ticket_id);
+                if (! $ticket) {
+                    DeferredWorkflowJob::update((int) $job->id, [
+                        'status' => 'failed',
+                        'last_error' => sprintf('Ticket #%d not found', (int) $job->ticket_id),
+                    ]);
+                    $failed++;
+
+                    continue;
+                }
+                $this->execute($ticket, $job->remaining_actions);
+                DeferredWorkflowJob::update((int) $job->id, ['status' => 'done']);
+                $processed++;
+            } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+                DeferredWorkflowJob::update((int) $job->id, [
+                    'status' => 'failed',
+                    'last_error' => $e->getMessage(),
+                ]);
+                $failed++;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return ['processed' => $processed, 'failed' => $failed];
+    }
+
     protected function parse_actions(?string $actions_json): array
     {
         if (empty($actions_json)) {
diff --git a/includes/class-activator.php b/includes/class-activator.php
index c7ffa64..467c363 100644
--- a/includes/class-activator.php
+++ b/includes/class-activator.php
@@ -390,6 +390,23 @@ private static function create_tables(): void
             KEY priority (priority)
         ) $charset_collate;";
         dbDelta($sql);
+
+        // escalated_deferred_workflow_jobs — queue row for the `delay`
+        // workflow action. Cron\Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check polls for
+        // status=pending + run_at <= now and re-dispatches remaining_actions.
+        $sql = "CREATE TABLE {$prefix}deferred_workflow_jobs (
+            id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
+            ticket_id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
+            remaining_actions LONGTEXT NOT NULL,
+            run_at DATETIME NOT NULL,
+            status VARCHAR(16) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'pending',
+            last_error TEXT NULL,
+            created_at DATETIME NOT NULL,
+            updated_at DATETIME NOT NULL,
+            PRIMARY KEY  (id),
+            KEY status_runat (status, run_at)
+        ) $charset_collate;";
+        dbDelta($sql);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -785,6 +802,10 @@ private static function schedule_cron_events(): void
         if (! wp_next_scheduled('escalated_chat_cleanup')) {
             wp_schedule_event(time(), 'escalated_every_minute', 'escalated_chat_cleanup');
         }
+
+        if (! wp_next_scheduled('escalated_run_due_deferred_workflow_jobs')) {
+            wp_schedule_event(time(), 'escalated_every_minute', 'escalated_run_due_deferred_workflow_jobs');
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/includes/class-escalated.php b/includes/class-escalated.php
index 0658589..0aa5040 100644
--- a/includes/class-escalated.php
+++ b/includes/class-escalated.php
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ public function boot(): void
         (new Services\BroadcastService)->register();
         (new Cron\Snooze_Check)->register();
         (new Cron\Chat_Cleanup)->register();
+        (new Cron\Deferred_Workflow_Jobs_Check)->register();
 
         Cli\AutomationCommand::register();
     }
diff --git a/tests/Test_Workflow_Executor_Service.php b/tests/Test_Workflow_Executor_Service.php
index 81322a0..9b72348 100644
--- a/tests/Test_Workflow_Executor_Service.php
+++ b/tests/Test_Workflow_Executor_Service.php
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
  * the service boundary.
  */
 
+use Escalated\Models\DeferredWorkflowJob;
 use Escalated\Models\Reply;
 use Escalated\Models\Tag;
 use Escalated\Models\Ticket;
@@ -272,4 +273,141 @@ public function test_execute_returns_parsed_action_list(): void
         $this->assertEquals('change_priority', $result[0]['type']);
         $this->assertEquals('add_note', $result[1]['type']);
     }
+
+    // --- delay action ---
+
+    public function test_execute_delay_pauses_and_persists_remaining(): void
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $ticket = $this->make_ticket(['priority' => 'low']);
+        $before = time();
+
+        $this->executor->execute(
+            $ticket,
+            wp_json_encode([
+                ['type' => 'change_priority', 'value' => 'high'],
+                ['type' => 'delay', 'value' => '60'],
+                ['type' => 'add_note', 'value' => 'after wait'],
+            ])
+        );
+
+        // Pre-delay action ran.
+        $fresh = Ticket::find($ticket->id);
+        $this->assertEquals('high', $fresh->priority);
+
+        // Post-delay action did NOT run: no note reply inserted yet.
+        $reply_table = Reply::table();
+        $notes = (int) $wpdb->get_var(
+            $wpdb->prepare(
+                "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {$reply_table} WHERE ticket_id = %d AND type = %s",
+                $ticket->id,
+                'note'
+            )
+        );
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $notes);
+
+        // One DeferredWorkflowJob row was persisted with the remaining tail.
+        $jobs_table = DeferredWorkflowJob::table();
+        $row = $wpdb->get_row(
+            $wpdb->prepare("SELECT * FROM {$jobs_table} WHERE ticket_id = %d", $ticket->id)
+        );
+        $this->assertNotNull($row);
+        $this->assertEquals('pending', $row->status);
+        $remaining = json_decode($row->remaining_actions, true);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $remaining);
+        $this->assertEquals('add_note', $remaining[0]['type']);
+        $this->assertGreaterThanOrEqual($before + 59, strtotime($row->run_at . ' UTC'));
+    }
+
+    public function test_execute_delay_invalid_value_skips_remaining(): void
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $ticket = $this->make_ticket(['priority' => 'low']);
+
+        $this->executor->execute(
+            $ticket,
+            wp_json_encode([
+                ['type' => 'delay', 'value' => 'nonsense'],
+                ['type' => 'change_priority', 'value' => 'urgent'],
+            ])
+        );
+
+        // Priority unchanged — post-delay action did not run.
+        $fresh = Ticket::find($ticket->id);
+        $this->assertEquals('low', $fresh->priority);
+
+        // No deferred job row was created.
+        $jobs_table = DeferredWorkflowJob::table();
+        $count = (int) $wpdb->get_var(
+            $wpdb->prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {$jobs_table} WHERE ticket_id = %d", $ticket->id)
+        );
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $count);
+    }
+
+    public function test_run_due_deferred_jobs_resumes_and_marks_done(): void
+    {
+        global $wpdb;
+        $ticket = $this->make_ticket(['priority' => 'low']);
+
+        // Seed a job whose run_at has already elapsed.
+        $id = DeferredWorkflowJob::create([
+            'ticket_id' => $ticket->id,
+            'remaining_actions' => wp_json_encode([
+                ['type' => 'change_priority', 'value' => 'urgent'],
+            ]),
+            'run_at' => gmdate('Y-m-d H:i:s', time() - 60),
+            'status' => 'pending',
+        ]);
+        $this->assertNotFalse($id);
+
+        $result = $this->executor->run_due_deferred_jobs();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $result['processed']);
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $result['failed']);
+
+        // Ticket priority was updated.
+        $fresh = Ticket::find($ticket->id);
+        $this->assertEquals('urgent', $fresh->priority);
+
+        // Row flipped to done.
+        $row = DeferredWorkflowJob::find($id);
+        $this->assertEquals('done', $row->status);
+    }
+
+    public function test_run_due_deferred_jobs_marks_failed_when_ticket_missing(): void
+    {
+        $id = DeferredWorkflowJob::create([
+            'ticket_id' => 9_999_999,
+            'remaining_actions' => wp_json_encode([]),
+            'run_at' => gmdate('Y-m-d H:i:s', time() - 60),
+            'status' => 'pending',
+        ]);
+
+        $result = $this->executor->run_due_deferred_jobs();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $result['processed']);
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $result['failed']);
+
+        $row = DeferredWorkflowJob::find($id);
+        $this->assertEquals('failed', $row->status);
+        $this->assertStringContainsString('9999999', $row->last_error);
+    }
+
+    public function test_run_due_deferred_jobs_skips_rows_not_yet_due(): void
+    {
+        $id = DeferredWorkflowJob::create([
+            'ticket_id' => $this->make_ticket()->id,
+            'remaining_actions' => wp_json_encode([]),
+            'run_at' => gmdate('Y-m-d H:i:s', time() + 3600),
+            'status' => 'pending',
+        ]);
+
+        $result = $this->executor->run_due_deferred_jobs();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $result['processed']);
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $result['failed']);
+
+        $row = DeferredWorkflowJob::find($id);
+        $this->assertEquals('pending', $row->status);
+    }
 }