Inside Paramount, employees say they have bigger concerns than a reported plan to ditch California

Paramount employees are prioritizing their job security over the reported possibility of CEO David Ellison moving the company out of California. Business Insider spoke with nine current Paramount staff members, all of whom expressed they are not worried about the company's potential relocation, either because they believe it is unlikely or they are already based outside of California. Instead, they are focusing on the impact the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger will have on their careers.

When Paramount's merger with WBD was put on hold due to an antitrust case from 12 states, some employees felt a "small sigh of relief" and believed they were "mostly secure" in their jobs. However, they acknowledged the need to have a "Plan B" in case the legal trial begins in March.

Ellison reportedly considered setting up the company in Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, or another state if California Attorney General Rob Bonta doesn't agree to settle the antitrust lawsuit by October. A Paramount spokesperson provided a quote from Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim, who confirmed that internal conversations about Ellison's potential move have been leaked.

Analyst Rich Greenfield of LightShed Partners suggested that Ellison's plan to move Paramount's headquarters is a "deliberate pressure tactic" to influence the antitrust settlement. However, a New York-based Paramount employee appreciated Ellison's aggressiveness, but noted that relocating thousands of employees from California would be "a huge logistical undertaking and disruptive to employees."

The company's pending deal with WBD, which could potentially take place in 2026, is of greater concern for Paramount staff. The merger brings the risk of a $7 million daily fee for financial backers if it doesn't close, and a $7 billion breakup fee if Paramount fails to buy WBD. This financial pressure has left some employees worried about the company's future.