Skydance, the media entity led by David Ellison, has presented a definitive ultimatum to its workforce following the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery: comply with a new five-day-a-week in-office mandate or accept a voluntary buyout to exit the company.
The “fully in person” requirement marks a significant shift in corporate policy for many within the newly consolidated organization. In a communication to staff on Monday, the company’s human resources department detailed the Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program, framing it as an option for those who do not see a path forward within the new operational structure. The company has not indicated if there will be any exceptions to the new return-to-office (RTO) mandate.
Under the terms of the severance package, eligible employees who opt to leave rather than return to the office full-time will receive two weeks of pay for every year of service they have completed at either Paramount or Warner Bros. Discovery. While this represents the standard package for most eligible staffers, people familiar with the proposal indicated there could be specific exceptions regarding the final amounts or the timing of the payouts.
The move comes as leadership, including David Ellison and Ynon, works to integrate the distinct cultures of the three entities. Prior to the merger, Paramount employees assigned to an office had already been operating under a five-day-a-week requirement since earlier this year. However, staff coming from Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) had been working under a model that required a minimum of only three days of in-person attendance. The new Skydance policy effectively ends that hybrid flexibility for the legacy WBD workforce.
HR leadership acknowledged that the transition would likely lead to staff departures. “We recognize that as we bring our teams together, not everyone will see their future here,” the HR email stated. The message further clarified that the decision to leave could be driven by the rigid RTO policy, the “pace of change” within the company, or evolving “personal or professional goals.”
Employees face a strict deadline to make their decision. According to the internal notice, staffers must notify the company of their intent to accept or decline the buyout no later than 8:00 p.m. PT (11:00 p.m. ET) on November 8, 2026. The company emphasized that the program is entirely voluntary and that once a decision is submitted, it can only be changed during the specific opt-in window. Furthermore, leadership made it clear that this is a “one-time offer” with no additional buyout programs currently planned.
To facilitate the transition, Skydance has directed employees to an internal “Integration Hub” for information regarding the RTO policy and the VBO terms. Individual offers and benefits estimates are being managed through the “My Paramount” internal portal.
The merger and subsequent mandate underscore the aggressive approach Skydance is taking to unify its operations. By offering a buyout alongside the RTO order, the company is allowing the workforce to self-select based on their willingness to adhere to the new full-time office culture. Those who do not respond by the November 8 deadline will be automatically recorded as having declined the offer, signaling their commitment to the five-day in-person schedule.
