Meet Denver: The Golden Retriever Who is Now Chief Happiness Officer at a Tech Startup

The company welcomed Denver to its team to reduce stress, boost morale, and make the workplace more cheerful.

A tech startup in Hyderabad has taken a unique step to keep its employees happy by hiring a golden retriever as its Chief Happiness Officer (CHO).

The company, Harvesting Robotics, recently welcomed a friendly dog named Denver to its team to reduce stress, boost morale, and make the workplace more cheerful.

The company’s co-founder, Rahul Arepaka, shared the exciting news on LinkedIn.

“Meet our newest hire, Denver – Chief Happiness Officer. He doesn’t code. He doesn’t care. He just shows up, steals hearts, and keeps the energy up. Also, we’re officially pet-friendly now. Best decision. BTW: He’s got the best perks in the company,” Rahul Arepaka’s post read.

The post quickly went viral.

Not only this, Denver even has his own LinkedIn profile, where his job description read: “As Chief Happiness Officer, I lead the charge in creating a positive, inclusive, and energized work environment:- Providing on-demand stress relief through timely walk-ins.
Monitoring team morale and issuing barks when affection quotas aren’t met.
Participating in key meetings (especially the ones with snacks).
Boosting productivity through spontaneous play breaks.- Welcoming guests, vendors, and new hires with enthusiasm and curiosity.”

The internet wasted no time falling in love with the golden retriever in a corporate role.

Reactions poured in, with users praising the startup’s decision to prioritise emotional well-being in such a creative and compassionate way. One comment read, “Love this, wouldn’t mind having this kind of joyous and cute colleague,” while another joked, “CHO looks like he’s already tired from making everyone happy!”

With Denver wagging through the hallways, the startup has not only boosted morale but also sent a powerful message: employee happiness matters, and it can come with four paws and a wagging tail.

The initiative is not just cute, it is backed by science. Studies show that pets in the workplace can reduce stress, increase morale, and even improve productivity. With rising awareness around burnout and mental health, companies like Google and Amazon have also embraced pet-friendly policies, and this Hyderabad startup is now among them.

Here are 5 key benefits of having pets in the workplace:

1.Reduces Stress: Interaction with pets is proven to lower anxiety and foster calm.
2.Boosts Morale:Joy and laughter from furry friends lift the overall office spirit.
3.Enhances Productivity: Pet breaks help refresh the mind and prevent burnout.
4.Encourages Social Bonds: Pets naturally spark conversations and strengthen team dynamics.
5.Improves Work-Life Balance: Employees feel less guilty about leaving pets at home, which enhances daily satisfaction.

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