My villagers are detecting workbenches from farther than I believe intended. According to the wiki, they should only be able to detect them from within 42 blocks, and if they’re pathfindable. My villagers are detecting them from almost 100 blocks away, while they’re in a fence cage,  and the workbenches are suspended in the air. It may be worth considering that the floor they are on consists of beds.

On a possibly related note, the villagers seem to keep their professions after their bench is broken, even if you haven’t traded them.