Paramount staff to return to five-day in-office week

Paramount UK staff will have to return to the office five days a week in 2026, after management ordered its US employees to kick-start the process from January.

The order was given in a memo, seen by Broadcast, to staff from Paramount Skydance’s newly-installed chief executive David Ellison, who last month revealed a push to “significantly scale” investment in content for its streamers.

Paramount completed a merger with production studio Skydance last month and announced a $2bn (£1.5bn) savings plan which will include the reduction of up to 3,000 roles of a total 18,000 staff by November.

The return to a five-day, in-office working week will initially be introduced for staff in Paramount’s Los Angeles and New York offices from 5 January 2026, with the company offering a severance opt-in programme for those who do not wish to return full-time. The deadline to apply for severance is 15 September.

Plans for a second phase, which are yet to be announced, will affect employees who are not assigned to LA or New York, including those based in international offices such as the UK and Australia, and those originally hired into remote roles.

It is understood that production staff and those who work from out-of-office venues may not be expected to be in the office each day.

Ellison said in his memo: “Some of the most formative moments of my life happened in rooms where I was a fly on the wall, listening and learning. I’ve never seen that happen on Zoom.

“Being together in-person isn’t just about showing up – it’s about actively engaging with the business, supporting one another and the team’s efforts, and contributing to our shared momentum.”

He added: “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.”

Paramount declined to comment.