Heart-warming! Indian startup hires golden retriever as Chief Happiness Officer: 5 benefits of having pets at work

At a time when issues like work-life and burnout at work balance has become a hot topic of discussion, buzz is that a Hyderabad-based tech start-up is investing in its employees' happiness at work. How? Well, the start-up has hired a golden retriever , named Denver, as its Chief Happiness Officer (CHO)! The heart-warming news was shared by the company's co-founder on social media, and the post has since then gone viral on the internet and garnered thousands of likes.


“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, co-founder of Harvesting Robotics shared in a LinkedIn post.


Not just this, surprisingly Denver too has an official profile on LinkedIn wherein his job profile reads, "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 news melted people's hearts online and many even commented on the post, showing much love for Denver and the company's decision to help employees deal with work stress. One user commented on the post, "Love this,won't mind having this kind of joyous and cute colleague" while another jokingly wrote, "CHO seems exhausted with the responsibility of making everyone happy :).” Some others wrote, "Pets bring so much joy Glad to see you embracing this. Awesome initiative," and "Pawsitive vibes ahead".


Benefits of having pet-friendly offices
It is well known that having pets can drastically boost one's mood and overall well-being. At work, pets can help reduce employees' stress, help people bond and improve overall productivity. And so, many MNC like Google and Amazon too allow and encourage their employees to bring their pets at work . In fact, Google CEO Sundar Pichai too is known to get his beloved pet to his office quite often, and his social media posts are a proof of this.


Here are 5 benefits of having pets at work:

1. Reduces stress
Having pets around lowers cortisol levels, helping employees feel relaxed, reducing anxiety, and creating a more peaceful work atmosphere.

2. Boosts morale
Pets bring joy, laughter, and companionship, which can uplift the team’s mood and create a more positive office culture .

3. Improves productivity
Short breaks with pets refresh the mind, preventing burnout and helping employees return to tasks with better focus and energy.

4. Encourages social interaction
Pets act as social catalysts, sparking conversations among coworkers and fostering stronger team connections and a more collaborative environment.

5. Enhances work-life balance
Bringing pets to work eases worries about leaving them alone at home, promoting emotional well-being and better daily satisfaction.