Paramount CEO David Ellison issues return-to-office ultimatum in staff memo
The policy will first apply to employees in Los Angeles and New York, before extending to international offices in a second phase.
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Paramount chief executive David Ellison has told employees they must return to the office five days a week from January 2026 — or seek a buyout.
In an internal memo obtained by CNBC, Ellison outlined that staff unwilling to make the transition could take a buyout package, available until 15 September this year. The policy will first apply to employees in Los Angeles and New York, before extending to international offices in a second phase. Workers in those locations will also be offered a similar buyout scheme in 2026.
Ellison, founder of Skydance Media, assumed leadership of Paramount last month following an $8 billion merger. Since taking charge, he has flagged sweeping efficiency measures aimed at, in his words, “unlocking Paramount’s full potential”.
“To achieve what we’ve set out to do — and to truly unlock Paramount’s full potential — we must make meaningful changes that position us for long-term success,” Ellison wrote. “These changes are about building a stronger, more connected, and agile organisation that can deliver on our goals and compete at the highest level. And especially when you’re dealing with a creative business like ours, that begins with being together in person.”
He added that the company would “work closely with managers to ensure [employees] have the time and flexibility to make the necessary adjustments.”
The return-to-office push comes amid a turbulent restructuring period for the US media conglomerate. According to Variety, Paramount is preparing to cut between 2,000 and 3,000 jobs as part of post-merger cost-cutting measures, with layoffs expected in early November. The company is seeking to shave $2 billion from costs as it grapples with declining advertising revenues and continued struggles across traditional cable networks.
