Skydance mandates five-day office week and launches voluntary buyout program
Media conglomerate Skydance is requiring all employees to work from the office full-time as it streamlines operations following its recent $111 billion merger.
Skydance has announced a shift to a mandatory five-day in-office workweek for its entire workforce. The policy standardizes attendance requirements across the newly merged entity, as Paramount-Skydance previously utilized a full-time office model while Warner Bros. Discovery operated on a three-day hybrid schedule.
In a memo to staff, CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz stated that in-person collaboration is essential for the company's business model. Alongside the return-to-office (RTO) mandate, the company is offering voluntary buyout packages to select employees. Management noted that this program acknowledges that some staff may not see their future within the newly integrated organization.
The restructuring follows the $111 billion merger of Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that left the company with approximately $90 billion in debt. Industry observers note that while companies often cite productivity as the primary driver for RTO mandates, such policies can also serve as a mechanism to encourage voluntary attrition during organizational shifts.
The RTO policy will be implemented in phases across the company’s major hubs, including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and London.