US OFFICES OUTSIDE NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES — Paramount CEO David Ellison unveiled Phase 2 of the company's return-to-office plan on March 26, 2026, requiring employees assigned to United States offices outside New York or Los Angeles to work full-time in person starting September 14, 2026.

Some full-time remote employees will be expected to return to the office in 2027. Full-time remote employees will continue working remotely through 2026 and will receive information and resources well in advance of any transition, according to an RTO FAQ.

"In this creative business, our success depends on close collaboration, and being in person together will help us innovate, solve problems, share ideas, and build stronger connections," the RTO FAQ said.

The RTO FAQ outlined enforcement measures for the new policy. "Managers will be responsible for ensuring team members meet the full-time in-office requirement," the document said. "When expectations aren't met, it will lead to discipline up to and including dismissal," the RTO FAQ said.

Some Paramount employees on the streaming technology and ad operations teams are exempt from the return-to-office requirement, according to a person familiar with the decision. Four streaming employees received emails stating they were not in scope for the return-to-office requirement and would continue in a full-time remote work model, according to an internal email.

In September, Paramount told thousands of employees assigned to its New York or Los Angeles offices that they would need to work in person five days a week starting in January. "Returning to the office full-time has been an adjustment for many," David Ellison said.

David Ellison's company previously instituted a five-day return-to-office mandate for staff who live near its New York and Los Angeles offices. Most Disney employees go into the office four days a week, while Warner Bros. Discovery staffers go into the office three days a week. Netflix offers a fully remote work option.