$2bn restructuring | Paramount sets five-day a week RTO mandate

Paramount Global has mandated a strict return-to-office requirement that will bring employees back on site full time beginning in January 2026.

The decision, communicated in a company-wide memo from CEO David Ellison, comes just months after the media group’s takeover by Skydance. The policy will position Paramount alongside tech majors such as Amazon, which already enforce five-day office schedules, while outpacing Hollywood rivals like Disney, NBC Universal, and Warner Bros., where hybrid models remain in place.

Phased rollout and severance

Implementation will occur in two stages. Employees at the New York and Los Angeles offices must resume a five-day presence on January 5, 2026. Staff outside those hubs, including international offices and individuals originally hired for remote roles, will follow later in the year.

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A severance opt-in program is being offered for vice presidents and below who choose not to comply, with an application window running through September 15, 2025. A similar program is being designed for overseas locations, with adjustments for local regulations.