Thread regarding ViacomCBS layoffs

@f9 VH doesn’t work for DE he works for Cindy so let’s be clear he will do what his boss says but he won’t be long for this world. He will leave because he has integrity.

@f0 let’s not be silly. Pluto makes money only because it’s shows Paramount content and doesn’t have to pay for it. That has nothing to do with VH. He does support his people

Stop it all of you de haters. Don’t mistake his large Neanderthal brow for someone who doesn’t know the business. Ha ha. Him talking about success in entertainment business is like a virgin explaining how he achieved his many imaginary conquests. No real detail and faking his way through it. Good thing dad has gotten him an expensive ho---r.

De is a decent guy if you want to get paid for saying yes to all of his ideas, which come from Steve Jobs and all the greats he likes to quote as having met (.jk). He is the Forrest Gump of tech bros I guess. He was everywhere with everyone and now we should just accept his wisdom. His track record is non existent. Claims to be involved in all these ip that he just paid to be a part of. His company was a tool for paramount pictures and now he comes in taking credit as if he created these franchises, cast them, etc when all he did was pay a piece of the budget to be in the credits. No one is going to call him on it now because they assume his dad will make up for his future mistakes. That might be right but doesn’t mean it’s good or creative new leadership at paramount. Predict he’s out of the biz in 10 yrs or less.

@f0 I don’t think he had any logic to begin with. DE is so detached from reality it ain’t even funny. He probably thinks AI will do all the work we do. He’s clueless. Time to abandon a sinking ship .

Guys, everything we read about de is that he’s an arrogant guy who gets whatever he wants. His chosen execs are not going to stand up to him at all, so how do you approach them with reason if you’re from the prior regime? Also, his history is wasting money/overpaying to make no money/sd is not a successful company with any ip worth a damn. He clearly has no business sense and this weakness is being propped up by his dad’s money.

Let's be real here. DE doesn't care... everyone is replaceable. Elon proved that by firing 80% of the workforce at Twitter. Everyone that can't be replaced will be re-hired or offered concession. 98% of the people complaining won't fit that category as being mission critical.

VH will do what DE tells him. The only way DE might not go through with his plan is enough people quit in phase 1 that would cause a significant enough dip in revenue. Once phase 1 is complete there's no way DE will change his mind for phase 2 since it would be unfair to the people in phase 1.

I agree VH appears to be a decent guy, but it’s time to grow a spine and speak up for your people before they walk. Pluto has made 1B dollars and P+ has recently become profitable, both occurring while we’ve all been remote or hybrid.

If we were working in a writers room spinning ideas off one another I agree RTO makes sense, but for elements of streaming, it does not. There was hope DE knew this with his initial town hall comments about this not being a one size fits all situation, however for some reason that logic has gone out the window.

@dt agree and VH is such a nice guy who really cares about people. He 100% has been left in the dark on all of this. Remember he has a new boss who is buddy buddy with DE

That VH meeting was amazing. I did feel somewhat sorry for VH because my opinion is that he’s been left in the dark on a few things. DE doesn’t care about anyone beneath his C-Suite, and he may not even care about them.

But I was happy that a few got vocal and very angry. Doubt it will change anything. Billionaires smirk at tears.

That being said, as a Phase 2 employee, I laugh at them offering a relocation package to me. Definitely not happening. People thinking they are going to offer this option to anyone lower than a SVP are in for a rude awakening. I’m fine going to the office 5 day a week if one was near me, but even this type of devotion does not matter at Paramount even if I’m willing to be compliant.

Also, how is RTO going to be policed? I urge you all to take extra long lunch breaks and leave the office at 3pm most days. Leave your computers at the desk. I know 2 hours of traffic keeps me motivated. I’m sure we’ll all be more productive and happier in 2026. :)

@ad Straight out of the playbook for tech bro toolery, just like the email that announced it. Nonsensical platitudes as faux team spirit.

@ap They're all falling in line because there ain't the no way their losing their jobs over us. Let's face it, DE runs the show and whatever he says stays. Everyone start looking if you aren't already and get away from this hellhole ASAP. The writing is on the wall. THE WORST IS YET TO COME!!!!

Guys, we really need to stay professional and keep some perspective here. DR mentioned having a one-hour train ride to the office, which I’m sure isn’t easy. It must be very, very stressful for him, which is why he then hides in his office for the rest of the working day, not conversing with anyone on the floor.

Meanwhile, there are employees making a fraction of his salary who will now be forced into daily commutes, in some cases five hours round-trip through LA traffic, just to sit in an office with one teammate while the rest of their team is across the country. How exactly does that make sense and does that truly make us “more connected”?

Don't act like you care because you sure as he-l don't - VH didn't even shed a tear today.

Strength in numbers is what happened; Bravo to those who spoke up. These “leaders” are saying they hear us but they sure as he-l aren’t acting like it. They’re kissing the ring with little to no push back.

@ad But this is DE's new toy and he will do with it as he pleases. He's no different than elon, trump, DOGE. Their heartless and cruel f**cks. Remembered what happened with twitter when Elon took over? Same thing is happening here. We're living in a lawless country now. That's what they all voted for.

The whole streaming org is revolting, upset, worried, panicked, anxious, angry, you name it. My take is that David Ellison and co have ulterior motives they're not going to disclosed with anyone at all. The Skydance management team strike me as the slimiest of them all, and they're thriving under this trump/MAGA regime - they have their full backing. I believe Skydance will replace most of us with AI and make trillions in the process, or so they think. Greed knows no bounds. David Ellison and co don't GAF about our feelings or impacts as human beings. They're the lowest sc-mbags of the earth, or in trump's words, outstanding ppl.

@a4 no, the RTO mandate is not from Vibol. But all the execs and our leaders have a responsibility to muster some courage and advocate for their teams.

To force people into such a life changing decision (severance or stay), with just a week to decide, is absurd.

To require an answer from us, but provide very little information TO us, is ridiculous.

Execs get paid the big bucks, and they should be fighting harder for us, not obeying in advance and kissing DE’s ring.

@a6 no. Questions about that were dismissed to prioritize responses for phase 1 people. HR said it would be announced when they 'knew more'.

@a7 Vibol Hou CTO of streaming. Nicest guy ever, so pro employee.

was any news shared about remote RTO/ i'm a different part of company but was hired remote and had heard most of streaming especially P+ hired during covid was remote ... any indication how that may go ...

People taking their anger out on senior leadership who were trying to hide their own frustration with not being in the room for this top-down decision and having to deal with the mess

But it’s not like RTO was VH’s decision.

In short, there was some pushback about rto