Skydance Mandates 5-Day Work-from-Office Policy and Offers Voluntary Buyouts Following Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition

Following its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Skydance co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreitz have instituted a mandatory five-day work-from-office policy across all locations. To streamline operations and manage post-merger debt, leadership is also introducing a Voluntary Buyout Program for eligible employees as part of a strategic cost-reduction initiative. The phased changes will eliminate hybrid work models and impact major hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and London.

RMN Stars Business Desk
New Delhi | October 29, 2026

HOLLYWOOD — Skydance co-Chief Executive Officers David Ellison and Ynon Kreitz are overhauling corporate culture and operations following the finalization of the company’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. According to an internal staff memo obtained by Deadline, leadership is instituting a mandatory five-day work-from-office policy across the combined organization while simultaneously launching a Voluntary Buyout Program for eligible employees.

The directives represent the first major operational restructuring since the merger closed weeks ago. Under the new policy, employees across all Skydance divisions will transition to a five-day in-office schedule. The policy will be implemented in a phased approach based on location, ending the three-day hybrid model previously maintained at Warner Bros. Discovery and aligning the broader workforce with Paramount-Skydance practices. Primary corporate hubs affected by the transition include Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and London.

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In the internal communication, Ellison and Kreitz highlighted the strategic rationale behind returning to full-time in-person work, writing that leadership believes in-person collaboration is vital to the company culture and business success. They noted that in a creative organization, ideas develop when team members share perspectives in person, and referenced positive outcomes observed at Paramount as a blueprint for the broader company.

Alongside the return-to-office (RTO) mandate, Skydance leadership unveiled a Voluntary Buyout Program designed to reduce overall headcount. The merged company currently carries nearly $90 billion in debt within an environment of rising interest rates. Ellison previously pledged to achieve at least $2 billion in cost savings, with workforce reductions expected to account for a substantial portion of the target.

The memo acknowledged that structural changes may prompt some staff members to evaluate their career options. Leadership confirmed that qualifying employees will receive individualized communications outlining specific financial terms, along with a dedicated timeframe to decide whether to accept the one-time buyout offer.

Executive leadership stated that building a connected, agile media and entertainment company requires structural alignment and direct communication across all operational units.