Paramount CEO David Ellison to employees in internal memo: Return to office or find a new job

Paramount CEO David Ellison

has sent an internal memo to staff, asking them to return to office five days a week starting January 5, 2026. The memo, obtained by CNBC says that employees who do not wish to make the transition can seek a buyout which remains live until September 15. Ellison, the founder and CEO of Skydance Media, became Paramount CEO last month after an $8 billion merger deal. Since acquiring the office, Ellison has informed employees to efficiency changes coming at the company and the latest return to office is part of his efforts to “unlock Paramount’s full potential”.In the first phase, employees in Los Angeles and New York will return to a full five-day office schedule starting next year. While the second phase will cover offices outside of LA and New York, including those overseas. In 2026, workers in these locations will also be offered a similar buyout program, the CNBC report says.

What Paramount CEO’s memo to employees say

As quoted by a CNBC report, the memo states:

“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. These changes are about building a stronger, more connected, and agile organization that can deliver on our goals and compete at the highest level. We have a lot to accomplish and we’re moving fast. We need to all be rowing in the same direction. And especially when you’re dealing with a creative business like ours, that begins with being together in person.”“We recognize this represents a significant change for many, and we’re committed to supporting you throughout this transition,” Ellison wrote. “We will work closely with managers to ensure you have the time and flexibility to make the necessary adjustments.”

Job cuts at Paramount

The US media conglomerate, as reported by Variety, is planning to cut between 2,000-3,000 jobs as part of its postmerger cost-cutting measures. As per the report, these job cuts are slated for early November this year. The company is looking to take $2 billion in costs amid advertising losses and industrywide struggles with traditional cable networks.