Swedish Boss Says ‘Yes’ to Solo Time at Work — Staff Get 30-Minute Masturbation Breaks to Boost Productivity
Erika Lust Films introduces daily self-pleasure breaks for staff to relieve stress, citing mental wellness and creativity 29 July 2025, New Delhi In a bold step towards rethinking workplace wellness,...
Erika Lust Films introduces daily self-pleasure breaks for staff to relieve stress, citing mental wellness and creativity
29 July 2025, New Delhi
In a bold step towards rethinking workplace wellness, Barcelona-based adult film production company Erika Lust Films has introduced a unique policy that grants its employees a 30-minute masturbation break during the workday. The initiative, spearheaded by Swedish filmmaker and entrepreneur Erika Lust, aims to combat work-related stress, improve mental health, and foster a more open dialogue around sexual wellbeing.
About the Company
Founded in 2005 by Erika Lust, Erika Lust Films is an award-winning adult film production company known for promoting ethical, feminist pornography. Based in Barcelona, Spain, the company stands apart in the adult industry for its focus on consent, diversity, intimacy, and realistic representation of sexuality. With a team of approximately 40 employees, Erika Lust Films operates both as a film studio and a creative hub that blends cinematic artistry with progressive values.
The Break That Sparked a Global Conversation
The policy originated in May 2021 during International Masturbation Month and was initially launched as a trial to address the emotional and mental fatigue employees were facing due to the pandemic. Seeing positive feedback from the team, the initiative was made permanent in May 2022.
Employees are now allowed to take a 30-minute solo break each day, during which they can unwind in a dedicated private room inside the office, humorously nicknamed the “Masturbation Station.” The space is soundproof, cozy, and even equipped with sex toys — provided in collaboration with premium pleasure product brands — to create a comfortable, shame-free environment for staff.
Why Masturbation? The Founder Explains
Speaking about the reasoning behind the initiative, Erika Lust emphasized that sexual wellbeing should be considered an integral part of mental health.
_*“Years of pandemic life had started to take their toll on us. We were less focused, more agitated and overall more anxious,”*_ Lust told.
She added that masturbation can lead to the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin, which not only improve mood but also boost focus and creativity.
*_Masturbation makes you happier, more relaxed and more focused. It is also a proven creativity booster and it increases your drive to get things done,”_* Lust added.
Employee Response and Benefits
Since the introduction of the policy, employees have reportedly experienced notable benefits, including:
• Reduced workplace stress and agitation
• Improved emotional balance
• Increased focus and creative output
• Greater openness in discussing sexual wellness
Though the policy is voluntary and not every employee chooses to participate, the general feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with several staff members citing it as a progressive and refreshing approach to personal care at work.
Beyond Lust Films: A Growing Trend in Adult Industry Workspaces
While Erika Lust Films may be one of the first to formalize such a policy in mainstream discourse, it’s not alone. In 2021, adult webcam platform Stripchat, based in Cyprus, also made headlines by installing private pods equipped with VR headsets for employees to use during paid self-pleasure breaks. These initiatives, though niche, reflect a growing awareness within parts of the adult industry about the intersection of sexual health, emotional wellbeing, and workplace satisfaction.
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Addressing Misreporting and Clarifications
Although some reports have described Erika Lust Films as a Swedish company, it is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, where all its operations and staff are based. Erika Lust herself is Swedish by nationality, which may have contributed to the confusion in earlier reports.
Furthermore, while the policy exists and is company-wide, no data has been publicly disclosed regarding how many employees regularly make use of the break.
In a world where conversations around mental health, burnout, and work-life balance are becoming increasingly central, Erika Lust Films has chosen to go one step further — by normalizing masturbation as a form of self-care in the office. By making space, literally and figuratively, for employee pleasure and privacy, the company is challenging outdated stigmas and redefining what wellness at work could mean in the 21st century.
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