Paramount Plans Five-Day Office Return, Cuts 2,000–3,000 Jobs

Paramount Skydance has announced a mandate requiring employees assigned to its New York and Los Angeles offices to return to working in the office five days a week starting January 2026. CEO David Ellison emphasized that in-person collaboration is crucial for the company's culture and business success, offering severance or buyout options for employees unwilling to comply. This return-to-office policy aligns with the company's broader cost-cutting strategy following its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance, aiming to achieve over $2 billion in savings through efficiencies in labor, real estate, and technology. The company plans to roll out similar policies for other offices and remote workers next year, amid expectations of substantial layoffs numbering in the thousands. Ellison highlighted that these changes are part of a generational shift in the industry, with reinvestment focused on technology integration and artificial intelligence. The mandate comes at a time of uncertainty among employees as Paramount seeks to restructure after the merger and adjust to challenges in advertising and traditional distribution models.