Dictates a five-day-a-week in-office schedule for Paramount in preparation for largescale cost reductions

In a significant move, Paramount's CEO and chairman, David Ellison, has announced a return to a full five-day workweek starting January 5, 2026, for employees in Los Angeles and New York. This decision marks the first phase of Ellison's back-to-work plan, with the second phase focusing on offices outside these two cities.

Ellison, who put his stamp on Paramount after its acquisition by Skydance, wrote in a memo that the changes are aimed at building a stronger, more connected, and agile organization for long-term success.

In addition to the workweek changes, Ellison's plan also includes cost-cutting measures. Variety reported that Paramount is expected to lay off between 2,000 and 3,000 employees as part of its post-merger cost-cutting measures, with these cuts slated for early November. The aim is to reduce costs by $2 billion within the conglomerate.

The move could help Paramount thin the herd ahead of looming staffing cuts, as the U.S. labor market growth slowed dramatically in August, with only 54,000 jobs added, according to ADP.

Meanwhile, Pulte has declined to reveal the source of the mortgage fraud 'tip' regarding Lisa Cook. No relevant information was found regarding who reported to CNBC that Ellison expects Paramount employees to return to full five-day office work on January 5, 2026.

In a bid to further streamline operations, a buyout program will be offered to employees operating in locations outside Los Angeles and New York, including international offices, in 2026. Employees who do not wish to make the transition can seek a buyout from Thursday until Sept. 15.

Interestingly, billionaire family offices have made investments in drones and nuclear energy in August, but no direct connection to the earlier facts was mentioned.

A bill has been introduced by a Senator to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, but it remains unclear how this relates to the ongoing changes at Paramount.

As the changes unfold, Paramount continues to navigate its post-merger landscape, with Ellison's vision for a stronger, more efficient organization taking shape.