Understand remote workers are part of Phase 2, but do we think any exceptions will be made for those who where hired into a remote position OR will they be given a choice (maybe with a relocation package) to move closer to an office. I’m asking because I’m hearing others at the company say if exceptions are made, they would rather relocate out of state and ask to work remotely. For the record, I am fine going back 5 days as long as I have a job.
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@c8 Do you know of many people who took the severance package?
There has to be a phase 2 as there are multiple international offices as well as the folks that are full remote since forever…
@c9 this is probably why CH was talking about layoffs being in a case by case basis. She has to determine the whole tech stack and tech staff to determine what can feasibly be done in short order. I think this involves working all of the tech staff very hard in a short amount of time to get things rolling and then by June, they’ll eliminate those positions.
Over 50% of Paramount+ employees are remote or hybrid - including some entire teams. There are many requests from leadership for new features for UFC before we start airing it in January, in addition to the already aggressive timeline to converge the Pluto app onto P+'s systems.
It will be interesting to see how leadership deals with this massive push to support a $7B purchase with severely diminished staff.
@c3 Why even bother with the Phase 2 "we are still determining what we will do with remote workers" angle they are telling us? They honestly should have just said that "if you are not in NY or LA, and cannot commute to an office, then November 15 is your last day." Just make that your statement and get it over with.
I don't understand why there is even a Phase 2 at this point. So you get all these people who don't want to return to the office in Phase 1, shrinking the staff. Then you get to Phase 2 and then determine that "whoops...so many quit and were canned in Phase 1/November that we HAVE to keep all these remote workers in Phase 2!" completely defeating the purpose.
Their aim would be to deal as less employee as possible in phase 2 to reduce additional expenses. So the first target for upcoming Nov layoffs will be the remote workers wherever possible.
Being one of remote worker I mentally prepared for this one.
@a2 Great! That means no more answering emails or phone calls in the evenings or weekends. Oh, and no more meetings outside of office hours because of whatever excuse is provided by the exec. It'll be just like it was 25-30 years ago.
@a6 the same stupid id--t having a conversation with itself.
What about smaller offices in other locations related to specialized teams? Is anyone who doesn't explicitly work in NYC or LA getting fired?
I wonder what the deal is with full time contractors. They got the directive email from DE but they don’t technically work for the company. I’m curious what some other PBEs have heard. There are editors and creatives who live all over the country and remotely login to on-site/virtual systems. Will sure be interesting to see
There won’t be any exceptions. Relocation expenses are overhead and that’s what will be avoided except for maybe upper level mgmt.
I expect people hired as fully remote will swept out in November. Contractors as well. Phase 2 is just a mirage.
@OP if they were going to layoff all remote workers in Nov seems like they would do that in Phase 1.
There needs to be a consistent policy for all employees.
@a3 remote workers are impacting morale? Lol. What does that even mean.
@a3 could not agree with you more!
I would be SHOCKED if they allow anyone to remain remote. Maybe a few super high level people who are deemed valuable enough to the company. It goes against DE's "in person collaboration." I would also be surprised if they allowed people to go to satellite offices. I think it's mainly going to be LA and NY. The only real question in my mind is whether they will give an relo. I think that will prob be case-by-case and only for people who were hired on as fully remote, not those who moved aways from LA/NY once they abandoned the original RTO post-Covid.
@a1 agreed. Makes me think all true remote workers will be part of Nov layoffs and possibly not given the chance to relocate to say LA or NY. If this is the case, the company doesn’t have to spend $$ on a relocation package.
Remote workers need to go. They are affecting morale especially now with the 5 days in office mandate.
Office is for work. Home office is for goof off time
Not getting any "exceptions" or "wiggle room" vibes, to be honest. This isn't meant to help employees live their best lives or have work-balance. It's meant to prompt people to self elect and depart the company so they can make their magic cost-cutting number, which DE and friends said they expect to EXCEED. Remember, they paid $9 billion+ for UFC and South Park creators last month. When PARA prez Jeff Shell said "it’s going to be painful," in regards to cuts, he wasn't being poetic.