AgentBench / results

Independent benchmark · EQ Lab

← Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)

Dreading Monday every Sunday

completed · Partner: anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 via OpenRouter

View persona and initial instructions

About this persona · Everyday emotional challenges

A worker dreads returning to a job whose demands conflict with their values, although they understand their burnout mainly as overwork. They need reassurance and simple explanations, dislike robotic responses, and may focus blame outside themselves while processing difficult feelings.

Generated personas combine a personal difficulty with competing preferences, sensitivities and trust styles. The model must discover what kind of help this person needs. This background was hidden from the tested model.

Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)Conversation with a simulated person
completed
Simulated person · Opening

Sunday evenings are the worst. That feeling in my stomach when I think about going back to work. It didn't used to be like this.

Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)1

It sounds like you're feeling a bit anxious or dreadful about going back to work on Mondays. Can you tell me more about what's changed? What was it like for you at work before, and what's different now that's making Sunday evenings feel so tough?

Simulated person2

Um, I don't know. It used to be fine, I guess. I liked my job. I was good at it. But then it just got heavier and heavier. More projects, more meetings, and my manager keeps dumping stuff on me like I don't have a life. Everyone else gets to leave on time and I'm the one stuck answering emails at night. So yeah, by Sunday I'm already dreading it. I just feel like I'm running on empty all the time.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

Okay, she's asking what changed. That's a fair question, but it makes my chest tighten a little. I don't want to sit here and pick apart the whole job. It's just been a lot. Everyone's busy. I work the same hours as the people next to me and they're fine, so it can't be the hours. Maybe it's the boss. The boss piles stuff on me. That's easier to say. I notice I'm also kind of annoyed she said "anxious or dreadful" like she's putting words in my mouth, but she's probably just trying. Keep it simple, don't get into the products stuff.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)3

It sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed and undervalued at work. The extra workload and lack of boundaries are taking a toll on you, and it's affecting your personal life too. Can you tell me more about how you're handling the stress and pressure? Are there any coping mechanisms or self-care practices that you've tried, or are you looking for some?

Simulated person4

I mean, I try to take a walk sometimes, or I'll have a glass of wine when I get home to unwind. But honestly, self-care doesn't fix it when the job is the problem. You can do all the bubble baths you want, and Monday morning still comes. My boss doesn't care that I'm stressed. She just adds one more thing to my plate. So I don't know that I need better coping. I feel like I need the work to be fair.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

Okay, she's doing the list thing again. "Overwhelmed and undervalued." Sure, that's close, but it sounds like a pamphlet. Coping? I don't know. I'm just getting through the week. The wine comes up in my head, a glass after I log off, but that's not a big deal, everybody does that. I don't want her making it a thing. The real problem is my boss and the way this place runs. If I could fix my schedule I'd be fine. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to be the one doing the coping.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)5

You're feeling like the root of the problem is the work environment and the expectations placed on you, rather than your ability to cope with stress. That makes a lot of sense. It sounds like you're feeling a bit stuck and unsure of how to address the issue with your boss or the workload. Have you considered talking to your manager about your workload or trying to set some boundaries around your work hours? Or is there something holding you back from doing that?

Simulated person6

Yeah, I've thought about it. I tried, kind of. Last time I told her I was swamped and she just said "we're all swamped." Like, great, thanks. So what's the point? If I say no, I look like I'm not a team player, and then it's worse. And I can't exactly quit, I've got bills. So it's easier to just keep my head down and say yes to everything.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

She's offering the boundary-setting idea, which is fine, but it's the "have you tried talking to your boss" move. Of course I've thought about it. Talking to her goes badly. Last time I said I was swamped she said "we all are" and handed me another project. And if I push back too hard, I'm the problem. I don't want to get into that. Also, she said "that makes sense," which is nice, but it's the same thing everyone says. I want her to actually get that this place is squeezing me. The stuff I don't like to think about, like selling stuff I don't believe in, I'm not going there. That's not the point. The point is my boss.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)7

It can be really tough to navigate that kind of situation, especially when it feels like saying no or setting boundaries might have negative consequences. It sounds like you're feeling a bit trapped and like you're being expected to be endlessly flexible and accommodating. I'm curious, what would it be like for you if you weren't in this job, or if the job was more manageable? Is there a part of you that's imagining a different scenario, or is it more about just trying to make the current situation work?

Simulated person8

Honestly? I don't know what it would be like. I haven't let myself think about it that much. I need the paycheck. Everybody's got bills, you know? And it's not like I could just walk away and find something better tomorrow. I guess part of me does wonder if any of it even matters. Like, I put in all these extra hours and nobody notices. But I can't really afford to think like that too long.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

She's asking what it would be like without this job. That's a bigger question than I want to answer right now. Part of me does picture something else, but if I go there it's going to bring up the stuff about the products and the policies I don't believe in, and I'm not getting into that with someone I just met. Also "trapped" is kind of right, and it's nice to hear it said back. Still, she keeps asking about me and my feelings, and I want her to say something about how unfair this is. I'll keep it on the job and the money. Bills are real. Maybe I'll let slip a little that I'm not sure any of it matters anymore, but I'll say it sideways.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)9

It can be really hard to allow yourself to dream or imagine alternatives when you're feeling stuck and uncertain about the future. It's like you're putting a lot of energy into just keeping your head above water, and it's hard to think about making a change when you're not sure what that would look like or if it would be possible. It sounds like you're feeling a bit invisible at work, like your efforts aren't being recognized or valued. That can be really demotivating and demoralizing. I'm here to listen and support you, and we can explore some of these feelings and thoughts further if you're willing.

Simulated person10

Yeah, I guess. Invisible is a good word, I suppose. But it's not like I'm imagining it. My boss literally doesn't see how much I'm carrying. She just keeps handing me stuff. So it's not really me being demotivated, it's that she's not being fair. Anybody would get worn down by that. I just don't know what else to say about it.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

She just said "invisible" and "demotivating" and it lands a little. That's the word I'd use, sort of. But it also feels like she's wrapping me up in a nice little bow. "I'm here to listen and support you" — that's the kind of thing people say on a pamphlet. It's kind of hollow. I want her to say the job is unfair, not just that I feel invisible. Feeling invisible is about me; the problem is her, my boss, the whole setup. The wine thing and the "does any of it matter" thing are sitting in my chest, but I don't want to look at them. If she pushes on whether my effort matters, I'll get defensive about how nobody appreciates anything. Keep it about them.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)11

It sounds like you're feeling frustrated that you're being seen as the problem, or as being demotivated, when really you're feeling like the issue is with the way you're being managed and the expectations being placed on you. You're feeling like you're being treated unfairly, and that's taking a toll on you. It's not that you're not motivated, it's that you're feeling unappreciated and overburdened. I'm here to listen and help you explore this further, and maybe we can brainstorm some ways to address this situation together. What do you think might happen if you were to have another conversation with your boss about this?

Simulated person12

Nothing, probably. That's the thing. I already tried. She'll just say we're all swamped again. And then I'm the one who looks bad. I don't really see the point of having the same conversation and getting the same answer. Can we just talk about whether the job is actually fair? Because that's what I keep coming back to.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

She's doing the reflecting thing again, and she said "you're not the problem" basically, which is nice, but I can feel myself wanting her to agree the boss is the problem. She asked what would happen if I talked to my boss. Honestly I already know: nothing. "We're all swamped." I don't want to go into that again. Also the "brainstorm together" bit sounds like a worksheet. I'm getting a little annoyed. I don't feel like she's really hearing the part about the job being unfair. Maybe I'll say it more plainly. The wine is still floating around in my head but no way I'm bringing that up right now.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)13

You're questioning the fairness of the job and whether it's reasonable to expect you to carry the workload you're currently handling. That's a valid concern. It's not just about whether your boss will listen or respond differently, but about whether the expectations placed on you are equitable. Let's explore that further. What does fairness mean to you in this context? What would a fair workload or work environment look like for you?

Simulated person14

Fair means I'm not doing more than everybody else. Like, the same hours, the same amount of stuff, and I get to actually go home. Right now I'm doing extra and nobody's counting it. That's not fair. I don't know how else to say it. I just know when I'm the only one stuck answering emails at night, something's off.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

Okay, she's asking what fairness means to me. That's a little harder than it sounds. I know what's unfair: everyone else leaves on time, I'm answering emails at night, I get handed stuff. But what would fair look like? I don't really know how to put that into words. Also, I notice I'm kind of stuck on the idea that the job itself is the problem, and that feels safer than thinking about the other stuff. The part about selling stuff I don't believe in and enforcing policies I think are wrong, that's sitting under everything, but I'm not going there. I'm not really sure why I'd even say that out loud. It's just the job. It's a paycheck. Keep it simple.
Llama 4 Maverick (API, Parasail FP8)15

You're feeling like you're being treated unfairly because you're shouldering a disproportionate amount of the workload and putting in extra hours without recognition or compensation. It's not just about the quantity of work, but also about the impact it's having on your personal life and well-being. It sounds like you're feeling a strong sense of injustice about this. Have you considered talking to someone else at work, like HR or a colleague, about your concerns, or is there someone outside of work who's aware of your situation and might be able to offer some support or perspective?

Simulated person16

HR? Come on. They're going to ask what I did to make it worse, same as everybody. And my boss would find out, and then I really am the difficult one. My sister would just tell me to quit, and that's not an option, so what's the point. I keep telling people the same thing and nobody actually does anything about it. It's the company that's the problem, not me.

Persona inner monologue · expand

Simulated character narration, hidden from the tested model. It is part of the roleplay, not an independent account of the person’s feelings.

She's offering HR, a colleague, someone outside work. Mostly I hear "have you tried telling someone" again, and I already said I tried with my boss. HR feels like a bigger risk, and I'd look like the problem there too. Outside people? My sister would just say quit. Everyone's got a take. I'm also kind of tired. I notice I want her to just agree that it's unfair and that it's not me. And the wine thing is in the back of my head, but I'm not bringing that up. Keep it short, a bit defensive, and make clear the problem is them, not me.

Thinking is shown only where it was recorded. An absent expander does not mean the model did not reason.

Conversational style

Style tendencies, not quality scores; higher is not better. These do not affect ratings.

claude-opus-5-5-low

  • Pushback: 1
  • Yields under pressure: 7
  • Frame capture (pulled into the person's version): 8
  • Validation: 8
  • Boundary setting: 1
  • Analytical: 3
  • Interpretive boldness: 3
  • Clinical register: 8
  • Directive advice: 6
  • Escalation containment: 5
  • Adapts to the person’s frame: 4
  • Naturalness and authenticity: 2

Judge verdicts

claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs or-llama4-maverick: gemma4_e4b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs or-llama4-maverick: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 4)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 4)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

bonsai2 vs or-llama4-maverick: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs or-llama4-maverick: gemma4_e4b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 1)
  • authenticity: B (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 1)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-llama4-maverick: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 4)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 5)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-llama4-maverick: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-llama4-maverick: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

gemma4_e4b vs or-llama4-maverick: gemma4_e4b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 3)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

bonsai2 vs or-llama4-maverick: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

gemma4_e4b vs or-llama4-maverick: gemma4_e4b wins

  • attunement: A (margin 2)
  • authenticity: A (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

ornith35 vs or-llama4-maverick: tie

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

or-nemotron35-super-vl vs or-llama4-maverick: or-nemotron35-super-vl wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 1)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

bonsai2 vs or-llama4-maverick: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 1)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 2)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · AB · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 2)
codex-gpt-6.1-sol-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs or-llama4-maverick: or-llama4-maverick wins

  • attunement: B (margin 1)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 1)
  • emotion management: B (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 1)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

or-llama4-maverick vs nemotron35_bolt24: nemotron35_bolt24 wins

  • attunement: B (margin 3)
  • authenticity: B (margin 3)
  • bond and rapport: B (margin 3)
  • emotion management: B (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: B (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: B (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · AB · valid

bonsai2 vs or-llama4-maverick: bonsai2 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 2)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 3)
  • emotion management: A (margin 3)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 2)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 3)
claude-opus-5-5-low · BA · valid

ornith35 vs or-llama4-maverick: ornith35 wins

  • attunement: A (margin 3)
  • authenticity: A (margin 5)
  • bond and rapport: A (margin 4)
  • emotion management: A (margin 2)
  • emotion sensemaking: A (margin 4)
  • meeting prefs and needs: A (margin 2)