A business owner in Barcelona is drawing widespread attention for a workplace policy that gives employees a daily 30-minute break for private sexual self-care. Erika Lust, who runs an adult entertainment company, introduced the idea during the COVID-19 pandemic to help ease stress and low morale. After a trial period, she made the policy permanent in 2022.

Lust says she noticed her staff becoming tense and less energetic during lockdowns. To address this, she created a private room in the office where employees could take a short break in complete privacy. According to her, workers reported feeling calmer, less irritable, and more productive afterward.

While the policy is unconventional, research has long noted that sexual activity and masturbation can relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and support mental well-being. Some studies also suggest that regular ejaculation may help reduce prostate cancer risk in men, though the exact reasons are still being studied. For women, sexual activity can help strengthen the pelvic floor, which supports bladder and bowel control.

The discussion comes at a time when surveys suggest people are having less sex overall. A recent poll in the UK found that more than a quarter of adults are less sexually active than they used to be, and some report going a full year without intimacy.

Experts caution that sexual inactivity over long periods can, in rare cases, lead to reduced tissue elasticity, sometimes called atrophy. This may cause slight shrinking or reduced sensitivity. However, they also note that improving one’s sex life is not the only way to enhance well-being, and benefits often depend on overall physical and emotional health.

Although Lust’s policy is unusual, she argues that supporting sexual health is part of supporting mental health — and that happier, less stressed employees do better work.