Thread regarding Paramount Global layoffs

@OP I think some really shady things went down the last 48 hours. I’m at the company and would love to safely compare notes. Let me know if you’re up for it and we can figure out a way to connect anonymously/privately. Thanks!!

@xd That is decent advice, but they won't negotiate. There are too many people going, and people who tried in the last round got nowhere. But sure, try, but I just know it won't happen.
All the best to everyone this week!

Although you can't negotiate your severance, you should try to negotiate payment of you and your dependents' COBRA premiums for as long as possible, especially if you don't have any other alternatives and can show a need for it (e.g. market conditions, preexisting conditions, etc.). Try to get at least 6 months of payments covered to lessen the burden of financial and emotional stress.

@h1 nepo baby and daddy are the wealthiest people in the world. They can "afford" to keep everyone on and it would be less than pocket change to them.

Its time to unionize.

@ww search for "severance plan" on Murray you'll find it there. look at the appendix, there is a table that shows the formula. if your title isn't listed in the table, then it's 2 weeks/year of service.

OP, do you know what the offer will be? When they bought out some of our news editors last year, it was 2 weeks/year of service. I've also heard 1.5 weeks/year.

what is the difference from last year? 3000 employees were laid off and 650 in June 2025.

@ke Is it any better to find out via email? Finding out in advance seems like a nice thing to me. Permission slip to slack off.

@OP I am very sorry you found out through a spreadsheet. Thanks for the details and hope you find the strength to get through this.

Any sort of intel if our boss requests us to be in the office next week? As oppose to telling us to wfh.

They have money to bid on WB yet they won’t invest in the existing workforce…

@g7 share the department my guy

i expected some leavings or step downs today but haven't heard of any ...

@g8 also curious on this and also what level they were at / if they received notification if their team members are also getting impacted

@g7 what part of the company ...

Hearing some higher ups were notified today that they were laid off…

@cz You're response is so tone deaf it's scary.

I work as part of a 3rd party vendor group for offices in and around Manhattan for most groups pulled under the new SkyDance umbrella. Last week, everything appeared fine with everyone I work with. This week, things got weird. Virtual meetings that usually have multiple SkyDance employees only had 1 per meeting. One manager was very distracted for one meeting just agreeing to everything we said which never happens. Another had only one SD employee (like a service agent) on the call that had to represent the department (that shouldn't have) and the poor guy sounded lost. He said he didn't know where anyone was. Maybe this post got around.

I experienced the first waves of people who were laid off from PG and things got intense for 3rd party companies as vendors had to pick up the slack for the knowledge that was lost when the employees were let go. It took about 5 months for it to calm down. I fear this time it will be worse!!!

But fear not entertainment junkies! You will still have your MTV, your FBI shows and your Paramount+.... for now! The employees that are left will be tasked to keep it going with the fear that if it goes wrong, it will affect their performance even if they have no idea how anything works, were never trained and have no business doing their new job! That's how companies that have competitive rankings work. Those who REALLY want to keep their jobs will find ANY WAY to do it. As the low performers leave, employees keep getting high-graded and competition gets fierce!!! Throats will be metaphorically cut and people will be thrown under the imaginary bus. The environment will be poisoned and what was once a great place to work will end up looking like a Waffle House in Alabama that only has a 1/2 bottle of syrup left.

Next week is going to sad for the 2000+ that are laid off but it's going to be HORRIBLE for the folks that are left to pick up the pieces to ensure things are business as usual. I don't know who to feel more sorry for as I've been on both sides for another large company. I have picked up the pieces and been on the chopping block. Keeping things moving was VERY hard but the grass isn't always greener on the lawn of the next company. Godspeed SD employees!

@cq we have been told just the day of .. now it's M and T as well .. mayne to keep the chatter down or no one to spy on meetings ...

This reads like chatGPT

@as I don't mean this to be aggressive, but you are truly delusional if you think this. If you're a younger employee, your best bet is to realize that as stated in other threads, HR is NOT there to advocate for YOU or other employees. They are there to mitigate issues to protect the COMPANY.

@bg we were encouraged to work from home next week as well. I don’t remember being told to work from home during last layoff 🤔

I hope my sl-t boss gets the axe.

Thanks you for being so open to share. The NEPO kid and his bean counters finally get what they want “savings” for the precious “shareholders”

5K people saw this - LOL - try to control this Comms... Fu-k off

@OP Do you speculate that the layoffs are going to be across the board? or are they going to target certain departments more than others. Also what about union employees?

thank you for the post as well

just told to work whole week from home ... trickle down from SVP
make sure to take home personal stuff you have at the office .. some of us may not be back .. last time people's stuff was packed up by them and sent - would rather do myself

I honestly thank the OP for this post. Yes, this is a horrible time but I appreciate the sharing of your knowledge. I'm responding to one of the comments about having to sign something to get the severance. EVERYONE, if you want your severance, will need to sign a release stating they won't sue the company, etc. That's the only way you will get your money. And there is usually a time constraint over how long you have to sign the separation agreement. Just keep that in mind and be aware. Good Luck Everyone!

I just wanted to echo everyone else that already said thank you for posting this.

@b6 "I was laid off in one of the earlier rounds."

Same. No negotiations. It was take/sign the package with the money, or no money and just hope you win in court. The days of asking for better are long gone even for senior levels.

It did turn out better for me, but the worry and angst is terrible. I feel for all of you in the middle of this now (again). God bless.

I was laid off in one of the earlier rounds. They would not negotiate on my payout, and would not pay anything at all unless I signed a deal memo stating that I would not sue, etc. Good luck, all.

I’m sorry to hear you’re getting laid off and found out in that awful way. I’m not sure if you’ve ever experienced layoffs, but you will ALWAYS be better off. Trust the timing of your life. Trust the path. This is a blessing in disguise. Thank you for the info you provided. Wishing you nothing but the very best. Godspeed

Thank you for this! Appreciate you so much!!

@as they outsource it then - like most corporations do They already did this and with the Bain people - Bain created the targets - names were given to HR not the other way around ..

@as HR is not your friend in any capacity. They are there to carry out the direction of the company; just like the lawyers. If you think HR exists to protect you from the company, might be time to start your own.

@as what does "They are the first defense. They could’ve said “no we’re not laying off people.” mean?!?

i keep thinking of that movie "Up in the Air" where George Clooney traveled to companies to fire people in person, just to be replaced by virtual firings because of Anna Kendrick's cost saving efficiency ideas...and now it's the future.

@at I think we all should do this. But HR should’ve been our first line of defense and that didn’t happen.

@as It would be much more effective if you just say, "No, I'm not letting you lay me off." Come on, be self-sufficient! Bootstraps something something...