Erika Lust generously allows her employees 30 minutes each day for personal pleasure during work hours.
Most employees wouldn’t turn down an extra break during their workday, but what if your boss encouraged you to take 30 minutes specifically for self-pleasure?
At Erika Lust Films, this is just another part of the daily routine. Since May 2022, employees have been given a designated half-hour each day for masturbation, following a successful trial run of the policy.
Erika Lust, the Stockholm-born businesswoman behind the indie adult film company, introduced the initiative after noticing the effects of stress and anxiety, exacerbated by the pandemic on her team of 40-plus employees.
“Years of pandemic life had started to take their toll on us,” Erika wrote in a blog post. “We were less focused, more agitated, and overall more anxious.”
Recognizing that stress is one of the biggest obstacles to a productive work environment, she sought a solution. Her answer came during Masturbation Month in 2021, an annual campaign promoting self-pleasure.
Inspired, Erika decided to dedicate the month to her employees by giving them an additional 30-minute break each day for self-care.
To facilitate this, she set up a private “masturbation station” within the office, complete with a selection of sex toys to enhance the experience.
Erika believes the policy has had a profound impact on workplace morale, claiming it has made employees “happier, more relaxed, and more focused.” According to her, the initiative not only helps with stress relief but also sparks creativity and motivation.
“It wasn’t just about helping my employees feel better during a difficult time,” she explained. “I also wanted to contribute to the normalization of masturbation. Sexual well-being is deeply connected to overall mental and physical health and should be treated with the same respect as any other aspect of self-care.”
Since implementing the policy, Erika says other companies worldwide have followed suit, inspired by her unconventional approach to workplace wellness.
Now, four years since the masturbation breaks became standard practice, Erika continues to champion a sex-positive work environment. A recent tour of her Barcelona-based headquarters revealed an office decorated with vulva-inspired artwork and even an “erotic chapel.”
Discussing the company culture in a 2024 interview, Erika excitedly confirmed, “Yes, my employees still get masturbation breaks!” She also shared a playful workplace motto: “An orgasm a day keeps the stress away.”
And for those wondering; no, there’s no word on whether Erika Lust Films is currently hiring.
