Does self-pleasure boost productivity? Swedish firm offers 30-minute masturbation breaks to employees

Coffee breaks, smoke breaks and even quick bathroom runs have long given employees a moment to recharge during busy workdays. But one boss has taken workplace timeouts to a completely new level.

Erika Lust, the Barcelona‑based owner of an adult entertainment company, now gives her employees a daily 30-minute masturbation break dedicated entirely to “self‑pleasure.”

The idea began as an experiment during the Covid‑19 lockdowns, when Lust noticed rising anxiety among her staff. But within a year, the results were clear: employees reported feeling “less aggression” and “more productive” after their daily breaks, prompting Lust to make the policy permanent.

But does masturbation really come with health benefits? And can it genuinely help reduce stress? Here’s what we know.

Inside Erika Lust’s ‘masturbation station’ experiment

What started as a bold idea to fight workplace stress during the pandemic has now become one of the most talked‑about company policies in the world. In 2021, Lust launched a trial scheme giving employees a daily 30‑minute masturbation break and even set up a private room in her office for it.

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Lust said the room, nicknamed the “masturbation station,” gave staff a safe, comfortable space to unwind, and it has been so well received that sex toy manufacturers have even supplied the company with tools to help get the job done.

“I value my employees and I know that when they feel good, we do good work. There is nothing more harmful to a successful work environment than stress,” Lust told The News Movement.

But the policy, she explained, was about more than just helping her team cope with lockdown anxiety. “I also wanted to do something to normalise masturbation on a broader scale. Sexual wellbeing is deeply intertwined with your overall mental health and physical health and should be treated with the same respect and resources,” Lust said.

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Erika told The News Movement that her staff swears by the re-worked version of the famous “An apple a day” proverb. “We always laugh at, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away…as an orgasm a day..”

Is masturbation really healthy?

Experts agree that masturbation, when done in moderation, offers a range of physical and mental health benefits.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, self‑pleasure triggers the release of hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin, prolactin and endorphins, which can lift mood, reduce stress levels and even promote better sleep.

Sex therapists say it can be an effective way to relax and release pent‑up tension. “Masturbation is healthy. Masturbation is typical, normal… sometimes to relax, sometimes to experience pleasure, sometimes to relieve anxiety or self‑medicate against some kind of difficult mood or emotion,” explained Ian Kerner, a sex therapist and author, in an interview with InsideHook.

Medical studies have also linked masturbation to improved blood circulation to the genital area, which may benefit prostate health in men and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections by flushing out bacteria. It can also support better sexual function.

For women, orgasms from sex or masturbation can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, a group of muscles in the lower abdomen that support the bladder, bowel and uterus. This, in turn, can help combat leakage and incontinence, an issue that affects about one in three women at some point in their lives.

Masturbation can also boost self‑esteem and give people a stronger sense of self‑knowledge and control over their bodies. All of these things are good for your self‑image, well‑being and ability to withstand life’s stresses, notes Verywell Mind.

But while the health benefits of masturbation are clear, whether the workplace is the right place for it remains a topic of debate. What are your thoughts?

With input from agencies