diff --git a/backend/app/models/worker.py b/backend/app/models/worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0295643
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/models/worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""AI Worker model - the 'virtual employee' profile."""
+from sqlalchemy import Column, String, Integer, Text, Boolean, ForeignKey, Float
+from app.models.base import Base, TimestampMixin, TenantMixin
+
+
+class AIWorker(Base, TimestampMixin, TenantMixin):
+    """An AI Worker is a 'virtual employee' profile.
+
+    Combines: model config + system prompt (role) + tool whitelist + cost limits.
+
+    Status: active, idle, busy, offline, cooling
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "ai_workers"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, autoincrement=True)
+
+    name = Column(String(200), nullable=False)
+    description = Column(Text, default="")
+
+    # Model configuration
+    provider = Column(String(100), nullable=False, default="openai")
+    model_name = Column(String(200), nullable=False, default="gpt-4o-mini")
+    api_key = Column(String(500), nullable=True)  # If empty, uses default
+    base_url = Column(String(500), nullable=True)
+    temperature = Column(Float, default=0.7)
+
+    # Role / system prompt
+    system_prompt = Column(Text, default="You are a helpful AI assistant.")
+
+    # Tool whitelist (JSON array of tool names)
+    tools = Column(Text, default="[]")
+
+    # Cost limits
+    max_cost_per_task_cents = Column(Integer, nullable=True)
+    max_cost_per_month_cents = Column(Integer, nullable=True)
+
+    # Status
+    status = Column(String(50), default="active")
+    is_active = Column(Boolean, default=True)
+
+    # Available time window (JSON: {"start": "09:00", "end": "18:00"})
+    available_hours = Column(Text, default='{"start": "00:00", "end": "23:59"}')
+
+    # Current load
+    current_task_count = Column(Integer, default=0)
+    max_concurrent_tasks = Column(Integer, default=1)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<AIWorker {self.name} ({self.provider}/{self.model_name})>"