diff --git a/.github/workflows/checkqc_test.yml b/.github/workflows/checkqc_test.yml
index fd9b320..b5951a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checkqc_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checkqc_test.yml
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ on:
 jobs:
   pytest:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+        working-directory: CheckQC/
     defaults:
       run:
-        working-directory: CheckQC/
+        working-directory: ${{ env.working-directory }}
     steps:
       #----------------------------------------------
       # check-out repo and set-up python
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         id: cached-poetry-dependencies
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          path: .venv
+          path: ${{ env.working-directory }}/.venv
           key: venv_checkqc-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.setup-python.outputs.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
       #----------------------------------------------
       # install dependencies if cache does not exist
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gendercheck_test.yml b/.github/workflows/gendercheck_test.yml
index dc3d279..e8b0058 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gendercheck_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gendercheck_test.yml
@@ -7,12 +7,15 @@ on:
     branches: [master, develop]
     paths: [GenderCheck/**]
 
+
 jobs:
   pytest:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+        working-directory: GenderCheck/
     defaults:
       run:
-        working-directory: GenderCheck/
+        working-directory: ${{ env.working-directory }}
     steps:
       #----------------------------------------------
       # check-out repo and set-up python
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
         id: cached-poetry-dependencies
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          path: .venv
+          path: ${{ env.working-directory }}/.venv
           key: venv_gendercheck-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.setup-python.outputs.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
       #----------------------------------------------
       # install dependencies if cache does not exist
diff --git a/.github/workflows/kinship_test.yml b/.github/workflows/kinship_test.yml
index 25acb4e..bb7725d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/kinship_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/kinship_test.yml
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ on:
 jobs:
   pytest:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+      env:
+        working-directory: Kinship/
     defaults:
       run:
-        working-directory: Kinship/
+        working-directory: ${{ env.working-directory }}
     steps:
       #----------------------------------------------
       # check-out repo and set-up python
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
         id: cached-poetry-dependencies
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          path: .venv
+          path: ${{ env.working-directory }}/.venv
           key: venv_kinship-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.setup-python.outputs.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
       #----------------------------------------------
       # install dependencies if cache does not exist
diff --git a/.github/workflows/moisaichunter_test.yml b/.github/workflows/moisaichunter_test.yml
index 6cd3467..c38b2fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/moisaichunter_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/moisaichunter_test.yml
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ on:
 jobs:
   pytest:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+      env:
+        working-directory: MosaicHunter/1.0.0/
     defaults:
       run:
-        working-directory: MosaicHunter/1.0.0/
+        working-directory: ${{ env.working-directory }}
     steps:
       #----------------------------------------------
       # check-out repo and set-up python
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         id: cached-poetry-dependencies
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          path: .venv
+          path: ${{ env.working-directory }}/.venv
           key: venv_mosaichunter-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.setup-python.outputs.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
       #----------------------------------------------
       # install dependencies if cache does not exist
diff --git a/.github/workflows/utils_test.yml b/.github/workflows/utils_test.yml
index 8fa18c2..47bc24d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/utils_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/utils_test.yml
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ on:
 jobs:
   pytest:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+      env:
+        working-directory: Utils/
     defaults:
       run:
-        working-directory: Utils/
+        working-directory: ${{ env.working-directory }}
     steps:
       #----------------------------------------------
       # check-out repo and set-up python
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
         id: cached-poetry-dependencies
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
-          path: .venv
+          path: ${{ env.working-directory }}/.venv
           key: venv_utils-${{ runner.os }}-${{ steps.setup-python.outputs.python-version }}-${{ hashFiles('**/poetry.lock') }}
       #----------------------------------------------
       # install dependencies if cache does not exist