Skydance requires five-day office return plus voluntary buyouts post merger

The newly combined Skydance entity, formed from Warner Bros. and Paramount, requires employees to work from the office five days weekly and has made voluntary severance offers available during the integration phase.

Skydance adopts five-day in-office policy across all units. Chief Executive David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz explained in a staff communication that physical presence aids collaboration and innovation. The directive brings the rest of the organization in line with Paramount's prior standard and will apply progressively by site.

Voluntary buyouts form part of broader cost-cutting plan. A single opportunity for departure with compensation has been extended to qualifying personnel under individualized conditions.

Gaming studios fall under the new structure. Responsibility for Netherrealm, Portkey Games, Avalanche Software, Paramount Games Studios and remaining Warner Bros. development teams now rests with Skydance. Eligibility for the buyout program and the timing of office returns for these groups have yet to be clarified.

Leadership includes new advisory board members. A refreshed board incorporates former UK prime minister Tony Blair serving in an advisory capacity, philanthropist Laurene Powell and ex-Activision chief Bobby Kotick.

Comparable actions appear at peer companies. Microsoft provided the same voluntary option to 60,000 staff members, or roughly 25 percent of its workforce, during recent Xbox reductions and an emphasis on artificial intelligence.