diff --git a/rq/job.py b/rq/job.py
index a417cc4..89ab015 100644
--- a/rq/job.py
+++ b/rq/job.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ def enum(name, *sequential, **named):
     values = dict(zip(sequential, range(len(sequential))), **named)
     return type(name, (), values)
 
-Status = enum('Status', QUEUED='queued', FINISHED='finished', FAILED='failed')
+Status = enum('Status', QUEUED='queued', FINISHED='finished', FAILED='failed',
+                        STARTED='started')
 
 
 def unpickle(pickled_string):
@@ -105,6 +106,10 @@ class Job(object):
     def is_failed(self):
         return self.status == Status.FAILED
 
+    @property
+    def is_started(self):
+        return self.status == Status.STARTED
+
     @property
     def func(self):
         func_name = self.func_name
diff --git a/rq/worker.py b/rq/worker.py
index c936262..15849cb 100644
--- a/rq/worker.py
+++ b/rq/worker.py
@@ -320,6 +320,8 @@ class Worker(object):
                 self.state = 'busy'
 
                 job, queue = result
+                # Use the public setter here, to immediately update Redis
+                job.status = Status.STARTED
                 self.log.info('%s: %s (%s)' % (green(queue.name),
                     blue(job.description), job.id))