The top executive at Paramount has effectively ended the company’s flexible, pandemic-era remote working structure and has ordered most employees to return to their offices five days a week.
In a memo distributed Thursday, CEO David Ellison said workers at the vice president level and below in New York and Los Angeles have until September 15 to decide whether to comply with the new mandate. Those unwilling to transition from the current two-day minimum requirement will be eligible for what Ellison described as an “opt-in severance program.”
The policy follows Skydance’s recent merger with Paramount Global, which closed earlier this summer. The five-day workweek will be implemented in Paramount’s Los Angeles and New York offices on January 5. The policy will expand to other locations throughout 2025, and will impact employees at a number of companies under Paramount’s ownership, including CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Showtime Networks, BET Media and Pluto TV, as well as Network 10 in Australia and Channel 5 in the United Kingdom.
“Being together in-person isn’t just about showing up — it’s about actively engaging with the business, supporting one another and the team’s efforts, and contributing to our shared momentum,” Ellison said in the memo.
The return-to-office mandate is one of the first visible changes under Skydance’s management. Executives have already signaled plans to cut costs by more than $2 billion, with reductions in headcount expected later this year.
For Paramount, the decision comes during a transitional period as Skydance works to integrate its operations with those of the legacy media giant. The studio is under pressure to reduce costs while bolstering its film, television and streaming divisions amid an evolving media landscape.
