Happiness and productivity in a blender

Alex Doggett is blending mango, pineapple, banana, spirulina, spinach, kale, and ice. She’s blending the yellow ingredients separately from the green, to create what’s known in the business as a ‘‘layered’’ smoothie. She gets to work early, sourcing fresh fruits, and some vegetables, and planning the day’s recipe. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are smoothie days. Tuesdays and Thursdays are for juices.

Doggett doesn’t work in a cafe or a restaurant. She did, until three weeks ago, when she was hired as ‘‘happiness engineer’’ at a user experience design company. Her office is reminiscent of the relaxed, colourful workplaces of Silicon Valley. Think dogs, bikes, dart boards and colouring books. But 10-year-old Optimal Workshop, which lists Nasa, Netflix, Uber, and IBM as clients, is located in a nondescript brick building on Wellington’s Courtenay Place.

Around 50 people applied for Doggett’s role, and former ‘‘happiness engineers’’ have gone on to senior roles within the company.

‘‘Now I’ve got my foot in the door, I’d love to see if there’s anything I can pick up and learn within the company,’’ Doggett says. ‘‘Everyone keeps telling me there’s so much opportunity if you just put your hand up, so that’s the plan.’’

Silicon Valley tech giants are known for taking workplace dining to the next level. Facebook, for example, offers employees free, unlimited food with on-campus cafes and restaurants.

While perks undoubtedly help retain employees in the high stress, competitive tech industry, research shows free food, in particular, can have a transformative effect on teams. It boosts morale, fosters loyalty, and reduces the amount of time workers spend out of the office buying food.

Optimal Workshop chief executive Andrew Mayfield says staff happiness goes hand in hand with productivity. ‘‘I think people are happiest when they’re Sunday magazine food writer Anna King Shahab shares her favourite smoothie recipe

cup raw cashew nuts, soaked overnight in water and drained 1 cups water cup ice

Tbsp grated turmeric (or powdered)

1 tsp grated ginger (or powdered) productive and feeling challenged, and I think people are productive when they’re feeling happy.’’

What does he say to those who argue employing a drink maker is, well, excessive?

‘‘I think it’s a necessity. Having a juice that’s good for you each day is better than 1 Tbsp Manuka honey 2 bananas (sliced and frozen) Juice 1 lime (or lemon)

METHOD

1. Blend cashews and water for 2 x 1-minute stretches to make cashew ‘‘milk’’.

2. Add rest of ingredients and blend well to combine another coffee. It helps prevent an afternoon slump, and goes a long way in terms of creating a healthy, daily routine.’’

He also acknowledges the role is an unconventional way into one of the country’s most successful start-ups: ‘‘It is a way in, and the people who come and do that job often move into Doggett’s favourite smoothie recipe is called Strawberry Lush. She’s shared the recipe below: Serves 2 | Prep 10 mins

INGREDIENTS

11⁄2 cups (375ml) of soy milk, 2 cups of frozen strawberries, cup (20g) rolled oats, 1 frozen banana, cup (170g) of Greek yoghurt, 1 tbsp of shredded coconut (save some to garnish), 1 tbsp of honey

METHOD

1. Add all the ingredients to the blender and process until smooth enough to drink. Add more milk if required to reach desired consistency.

2. Pour into glass, garnish with some shredded coconut and serve immediately.

different roles. We’re pretty supportive of people trying on different hats.’’

Former happiness engineer Chloe Mudge is now the ‘‘people experience officer’’. The goal of her job is essentially the same as that of the happiness engineer, she says: ‘‘People should have a good time at work.’’

‘‘Companies such as Google, they care so much about their people. It’s a tech thing, and I think Optimal Workshop takes it a step further.’’

Day to day, she says, she helps her 49 colleagues feel ‘‘completely comfortable and psychologically safe while they’re here’’.

‘‘Yes, we have deadlines, yes, it’s important we get the work done, but it’s more important that we can support our families and be there for life.’’