CBS News Staff Reacts to Office Mandate Amid Cost-Cutting Measures
Staff at CBS News are joking about the new directive from parent company Paramount Skydance, which mandates that all employees return to the office for five days a week. This comes just days before anticipated budget cuts that some are calling a “Bloodbath.”
Last month, a long-stalled merger worth $8.4 billion with Skydance was finally finalized. Sources say that employees will soon receive an email urging them to return to their desks full-time or, alternatively, providing information about the merger.
One insider mentioned, “People are getting anxious and wondering if they’ll still have jobs by Thanksgiving.” The atmosphere seems tense, especially with many stating that CBS News headquarters in Hell’s Kitchen is already feeling cramped, and there’s a need for space for “CBS Morning.”
“CBS Mornings,” co-hosted by Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil, is making a comeback to its former, dimly lit location at the CBS Broadcast Center, moving from its newer setup at 1515 Broadway.
There’s also talk that Paramount employees may receive incentives if they resist the new office policy. Sources indicate that those who choose to “opt-out” may find themselves let go as part of the forthcoming acquisition set for mid-October.
“They want to create a sense of urgency,” another source noted. Each division within Paramount seems to have its own approach to employee policies right now.
Jeff Shell, the newly appointed president of Paramount Skydance, is reportedly instructing his team to prepare a “kill list” in anticipation of layoffs expected in November. These cuts will coincide with the third-quarter earnings report and new executives’ presentations to investors regarding the company’s future strategies.
Last month, Shell spoke at a press event in Los Angeles, describing the cuts as “painful” and emphasizing they would not be part of a regular cycle. “We don’t want to be a company that fires people quarterly,” he remarked, reflecting on previous leadership practices that involved frequent layoffs.
