diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9dcb086b..42efdfd8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 > human operator. Bug reports and contributions are still welcome, but please
 > expect AI-generated code, comments, and documentation throughout.
 <!-- AI-DD-META:END -->
+> **Work state:** ACTIVE · **Progress:** `█████████░ 90%`
+>
 > **Pinned references (Phenotype-org)**
 > - MSRV: see rust-toolchain.toml (Tauri 2 shell)
 > - cargo-deny config: see deny.toml
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@
 > **Architecture:** See [ARCHITECTURE.md](ARCHITECTURE.md) for component architecture.
 > **Threat model:** See [docs/security/threat-model.md](docs/security/threat-model.md) for the per-component STRIDE analysis.
 
+
 ## What is this?
 
 **BytePort is a self-hosted Infrastructure-as-Code deployment + portfolio platform
diff --git a/worklog.md b/worklog.md
index f90ebb85..04c324d0 100644
--- a/worklog.md
+++ b/worklog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 # BytePort Worklog
 
+### 2026-06-25 — A21: Refresh README work-state header
+
+**docs(A21): add work-state header to README**
+
+- Inserted `> **Work state:** ACTIVE` blockquote after `<!-- AI-DD-META:END -->`
+- Removed verbose `## Work state` section (merged into STATUS.md)
+- Branch: `docs/A21-readme-workstate`
+- PR: [#246](https://github.com/KooshaPari/BytePort/pull/246)
+- Epic: epic_A — Hygiene garden & branch slim
+
+---
+
 ## Recent Entries
 
 ### %Y->- (HEAD -> main) — GOVERNANCE