diff --git a/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
index d2da9488..f28e5ad1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 name: "FV3 translate tests"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
 
 jobs:
   fv3_translate_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
index 5966f4c9..afd96c1c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 name: "Lint"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
 
 # cancel running jobs if theres a newer push
 concurrency:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
index 63f9f0e7..ea3d40b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 name: "pace main tests"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
 
 jobs:
   pace_main_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
index c27fd232..53ba510b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 name: "SHiELD Translate tests"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
 
 jobs:
   shield_translate_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
index 5cf1a8cc..a6a76b2a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 name: "NDSL unit tests"
+
+# Run these these whenever ...
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
+  merge_group: # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main # ... when merging into the main branch
 
 # cancel running jobs if theres a newer push
 concurrency: