Skydance mandates full time office return and offers voluntary buyout program

The newly merged Skydance Corporation has instituted a mandatory five-day return to the office for all employees, GamesIndustry.biz and WN Hub reported. Alongside the mandatory office attendance, the company is introducing a Voluntary Buyout Program for workers who choose not to comply or wish to leave the firm, according to reports from GamesIndustry.biz, WN Hub, and TipRanks. [1][3][5]

In an email to staff viewed by Vertical Slice, Skydance chief executive officer David Ellison and co-chief executive officer Ynon Kreiz stated that they believe the five-day in-office policy across the entire company is in the best interest of employees, GamesIndustry.biz reported. Baller Alert noted that employees across the enterprise are currently weighing their options regarding the buyout packages. [1][4]

The mandate follows a $111 billion merger completed earlier this month between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which now operate under the Skydance banner, GamesIndustry.biz reported. As part of that consolidation, Paramount Games Studio and WB Games were combined into a single gaming unit managed by Tony Driscoll. [1]

The corporate restructuring mirrors broader labor shifts across the video game industry. As FTMQ Gaming reported earlier, Microsoft introduced a voluntary exit scheme for up to 60,000 workers across its global operations, including eligible staff within its Xbox gaming division. [6]