RTO 5 days a week or quit? How one Paramount manager made his decision.

"For the first half of this year, Telemarque commuted to the office two days a week in his role as senior manager of deal finance strategy. When management changes tied to the company's merger bumped that up to three days for his team starting in September, Telemarque and his wife began preparing a childcare plan for their four-year-old daughter on the days he'd have to make the 90-minute, one-way commute."

"On September 4, their plans were scrambled. David Ellison, who became CEO in August following the merger's closing, issued an ultimatum to most employees: return to the office five days a week starting in January, or accept a severance package by September 15. 'They dropped the bomb: 'Hey, it's five days a week - take it or leave it,'' Telemarque said."

Ron Telemarque faced a choice after Paramount Skydance tightened its in-office requirements following a merger. He previously commuted two days weekly but management raised his team's in-office days to three, prompting childcare planning for his four-year-old daughter and a 90-minute one-way commute. In September CEO David Ellison gave most employees until mid-September to accept severance or return five days weekly starting January. About 600 employees accepted severance. Other large employers have also rolled back remote-work policies, causing workers to reconsider living arrangements, childcare, commute burdens, and career decisions.

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