I am chairing a session on Work at the Battle of Ideas and would like some advice as to what people think about work life balance in this current climate. Some people are arguing that this is the moment to spend more time with family and yes have more leisure. Others however have said that Work is more important now than ever? The former almost make out that to date work has been a problem (in some instances work has been equated to being toxic) – they cite British working culture of long hours, intensity of work, 24/7 working culture because of technology and even go as far as to say that too much work has been detrimental not just to our well being but to the environment etc. The latter value the importance of work, recognising that work gives us some kind of status and identity – most people always ask when they meet you: ‘what do you do?’

The panel includes John Philpott, CIPD and Stephen Overeall from the Work Foundation. Any advise on the questions I should ask?