Unless you’re in the meat processing industry, taking a break for personal pleasure at the office is typically frowned upon—a sentiment most employees are likely to agree with.
While often depicted in films like Rocky or The Wolf of Wall Street, the concept of a designated masturbation break may be more familiar to employees at a certain Spanish company.
In the contemporary workplace, much has changed since the grueling days of long hours in mines. Many companies now offer the convenience of working from home, along with flexible schedules and various initiatives aimed at supporting employee mental and physical health. One such initiative, introduced by Erika Lust, is a unique policy that allows for personal relief breaks.
Erika Lust, who operates an adult entertainment company in Barcelona, Spain, has implemented a policy to help her employees alleviate ‘stress’ and ‘agitation’ by providing them with an NSFW break option.
The company permits its staff a 30-minute period of personal time in a designated ‘masturbation station’ room. This policy was officially integrated into company guidelines in 2022 after a successful trial during the lockdown period.
Explaining the rationale behind the half-hour masturbation break during work hours, Lust commented: “The truth is masturbation can help people manage stress, regulate their sleep, and connect with their body and sexual desires, among other advantages.”
Feedback from the staff regarding this unusual initiative revealed that many experienced ‘less aggression’ and were ‘more productive’.
Research has consistently shown that masturbation and physical intimacy offer numerous health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure, and avoiding it could potentially be detrimental.
Dubbed the ‘Queen of ethical porn’ from Sweden, Lust told The News Movement: “They get masturbation breaks. In case you need one, you’re always invited to do it. It gets rid of anxiety.”
Lust likened this concept to the adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’
She elaborated: “With the pandemic and the huge shift in how we live our lives, I began to notice that my employees had become somewhat agitated and were performing with less energy than before.”
To address this, Lust established a private space for staff to enjoy these breaks, emphasizing the importance of employee satisfaction: “I value my employees and I know that when they feel good, we do good work.”
Lust emphasized that stress is detrimental to a work environment and created the ‘masturbation station’ to offer workers a ‘safe, comfortable space for their masturbation break.’
“But the masturbation break wasn’t only about trying to help my employees feel better in these trying times,” she added. “I also wanted to do something to normalise masturbation on a broader scale.”
Lust, who seeks to ‘reinvent’ ethical porn, concluded: “Sexual wellbeing is deeply intertwined with your overall mental health and physical health and should be treated with the same respect and resources.”