David Ellison’s Skydance just shared its buyout offer for employees who don’t want to return to an office five days a week.
Staffers across the company, which was formed by the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, were told on Monday that they’d soon have to work fully in person. The company didn’t say if there were any exceptions to its new RTO mandate.
Eligible employees who aren’t willing to work in person can opt to take a standard buyout package of two weeks of severance for every year they’ve been at Paramount or WBD, two people familiar with the offer told Business Insider.
Most eligible employees will receive that offer, a person familiar with Skydance’s proposal said, though there could be exceptions on the timing or the amount received.
Staffers who’ve been offered severance must decide whether they’re leaving the company by 11 p.m. ET on November 8, an HR email viewed by Business Insider said.
Paramount staffers assigned to an office had been required to work from an office five days a week since earlier this year, while WBD workers had been working in an office at least three days a week.
“We recognize that as we bring our teams together, not everyone will see their future here,” Skydance’s HR team said in an email to staffers.
Skydance’s HR email said this buyout “is a one-time offer” and told employees that there are “no additional” offers planned.
Read the full email Skydance’s HR team sent below:
As David and Ynon shared earlier today, we recognize that as we bring our teams together, not everyone will see their future here. For some, it may be the in-office policy or the pace of change. For others, it may instead reflect personal or professional goals. To give employees the option to decide what is best for them, we are offering a one-time Voluntary Buyout (VBO) Program to eligible employees. A VBO gives an eligible employee the opportunity to volunteer to leave the organization in return for a separation package. You are receiving this email because you meet the eligibility criteria and may choose whether to participate in this program. We recognize this is an important personal decision. Please carefully consider the opportunity and notify us of your decision to accept or decline no later than 8:00 p.m. PT on November 8, 2026. Before you decide, please keep the following in mind:
- Participation is entirely voluntary.
- This is a one-time offer; no additional BO programs are planned.
- If you do not respond by the deadline, you will be considered to have declined the offer.
- Once submitted, your decision may only be changed during your opt-in window.
- You may wish to consult a personal financial, tax, or legal adviser before making your decision.
Please click here to indicate your decision and to review additional information, including an estimate of your severance and benefits. We value your contributions and we want you to feel supported and informed as you consider your decision. For FAQs related to the VBO and our return-to-office policy, please visit the Skydance Integration Hub. For additional questions about the program or your individual offer, please visit My Paramount.
