The hidden pressures of the summer workplace will be the focus of the latest Westside BID Lunch & Learn, as businesses are invited to explore why August can be one of the most demanding times of the working year.
While the holiday season is often associated with rest and relaxation, many employees find themselves covering for absent colleagues, balancing increased workloads and juggling family commitments, creating what experts have dubbed the “August Slump.”
Westside BID’s upcoming Lunch and Learn workshop, The August Slump: Why Summer is Secretly Exhausting Us (And How to Fix It) led by Wellness Consultant Harriette Luscombe, will examine the behavioural science behind this seasonal phenomenon and offer practical techniques to help professionals recognise and manage the early signs of burnout.

The 45-minute interactive session will introduce attendees to the Summer Burnout Index, a rapid self-assessment tool designed to identify three key indicators of workplace fatigue: emotional exhaustion, growing cynicism and reduced productivity. By encouraging participants to assess their own wellbeing, the workshop aims to help businesses address stress before it develops into more serious burnout.
Alongside the self-assessment, the session will explore why reduced staffing levels can intensify workplace pressure during the summer months and how employees can establish healthy boundaries without guilt when managing additional responsibilities. Attendees will also be introduced to a series of two-minute “micro-recovery” techniques designed to restore focus, reduce mental fatigue and improve resilience throughout the working day. Attendees can also enjoy light refreshments.
The workshop forms part of Westside BID’s continuing programme of professional development events, which combine practical business support with wellbeing initiatives for organisations across Westside.
Book here: – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994575628397?aff=oddtdtcreator




