The newly merged Skydance Corporation has announced a strict return-to-office mandate requiring all employees to work from the office five days a week. This directive accompanies the launch of a Voluntary Buyout Program (VBO) designed to offer eligible staff an option to leave the company. The policy follows the completion of the $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this month, which consolidated operations under the Skydance banner and merged Paramount Games Studio with WB Games into a single unit led by Tony Driscoll.
In an internal communication seen by Vertical Slice, Skydance CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz stated that the five-day in-office requirement is in the best interest of the workforce. The executives cited firsthand benefits observed at Paramount, arguing that the best ideas emerge when people share perspectives and solve problems in the same room. They emphasized that physical presence fosters inspiration, coaching, friendship, and the casual conversations necessary to spark innovation.
According to reports, the return-to-office policy will be implemented in phases based on location, with employees receiving ample notice before changes take effect. The company indicated it may revisit fully remote roles during this process, noting that staff currently in such positions will not face immediate changes. Alongside the mandate, Skydance outlined the terms of the VBO, acknowledging that not all employees may see their future within the restructured organization.
This move comes shortly after Microsoft offered voluntary exit packages to up to 60,000 employees, including Xbox staff. Ellison had previously warned during the initial merger announcement that combining two companies of this size and complexity would necessitate difficult decisions and result in significant impacts on the workforce.
Sources: GamesIndustry.biz.