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Paramount Offers Severance to 600 Employees Unwilling to Return to Office
11 Nov
Summary
- 600 Paramount employees took voluntary severance package
- Paramount to begin phased return to office in January 2026
- Paramount plans to transform into tech-driven entertainment leader
As of November 11, 2025, Paramount has announced that approximately 600 of its employees have taken a voluntary severance package rather than returning to the office five days a week. This is part of the company's push to "create a more connected, agile organization," according to CEO David Ellison.
The return-to-office plan is set to begin in January 2026, with Phase 1 already completed. This phase involved Paramount employees in New York City and Los Angeles at the vice president level and below either choosing between a voluntary severance package or working in person.
In addition to the formal layoffs, Paramount is also looking to transform itself into a technological leader in the entertainment industry. The company plans to utilize tools like virtual production and AI, as well as leverage its relationship with Larry Ellison's Oracle to move its streaming platforms, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and BET+, to a unified tech stack next year.
The media giant has faced several layoffs since Skydance acquired the company over the summer. Divisions impacted by the cuts included Paramount+, MTV, BET, and CBS. Paramount is set to cut another roughly 1,000 employees at a later date.
