Skydance, the newly merged entertainment giant formed from Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), is mandating a full-time return to office for all employees. This decision standardizes the workweek, as Paramount-Skydance previously required five days in-office, while WBD only required three. Chairman and CEO David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz emphasized that in-person collaboration is crucial for the company's culture and creative success. The company is also offering voluntary buyouts to specific employees, acknowledging that some may choose to leave.Skydance, burdened with nearly $90 billion in debt from the $111 billion merger, had previously indicated that layoffs would be necessary as part of integrating the two companies. This return-to-office mandate aligns with a broader trend among U.S. corporations implementing RTO policies. While often framed as essential for productivity, experts suggest these mandates can also reflect management-labor power dynamics, the need to justify real estate costs, or even serve as a disguised form of attrition. RTO policies are generally unpopular with employees, often leading companies to adjust their implementation. Skydance plans to phase in its RTO mandate across its various office locations, primarily in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and London.