diff --git a/.github/workflows/migration_numbering.yml b/.github/workflows/migration_numbering.yml
index d2801df..cc4e109 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/migration_numbering.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/migration_numbering.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
 
             #   The check itself ships with nails/common
             -   name: Install Composer dependencies
-                run: COMPOSER_ROOT_VERSION=dev-develop composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist
+                run: COMPOSER_ROOT_VERSION=dev-feature/pre-new-admin composer install --no-interaction --prefer-dist
 
             #   The branch being merged into is not a counterpart to compare against
             -   name: Check migration numbering
diff --git a/src/Console/Command/Work.php b/src/Console/Command/Work.php
index 37c75c4..0d4a241 100644
--- a/src/Console/Command/Work.php
+++ b/src/Console/Command/Work.php
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@
 
 class Work extends Base implements SignalableCommandInterface
 {
+    /**
+     * The longest, in milliseconds, an idle worker will wait between polls
+     */
+    protected const MAX_WAIT_TIME = 5000;
+
     protected Logger   $logger;
     protected Database $database;
     protected Manager  $manager;
@@ -250,12 +255,12 @@ protected function startEventLoop(array $queues): void
                         $maxRetries   = max(0, (int) $job->task::getMaxRetries());
                         $currentTries = (int) ($job->attempts ?? 0);
                         if ($currentTries < $maxRetries) {
-                            $this->manager->retryJob($job, $e);
+                            $retried    = $this->manager->retryJob($job, $e);
                             $logMessage = sprintf(
                                 '<comment>RETRY %d/%d</comment> (next at %s)',
                                 $currentTries + 1,
                                 $maxRetries,
-                                $job->available_at->format('H:i:s')
+                                $retried->available_at->format('H:i:s')
                             );
                         } else {
                             $logMessage = '<info>FAILED</info>';
@@ -283,6 +288,12 @@ protected function startEventLoop(array $queues): void
                         usleep($chunk * 1000);
                         $remainingMs -= $chunk;
                     }
+
+                    // Back off while idle; the wait resets once a job has been run
+                    $waitTime = min(
+                        $waitTime * 2,
+                        max(static::MAX_WAIT_TIME, Config::get('QUEUE_WORKER_WAIT_TIME', 500))
+                    );
                 }
 
             } catch (Throwable $e) {