Fieldwork Deal, $15K Exit Fee: Read the Repay Clause

Before the tea: This is a recap of a public r/bcba post from Sep 2, 2026. Pair doesn't know this company, and we're not naming anyone. Not legal advice.

The post title says it all: "Being held hostage at my job."

The poster, a clinician in Michigan, has been at their company almost four years. Two years ago they started their practicum there and signed a repayment deal: stay for two years after finishing fieldwork hours, or pay it back. They finished in May.

Since signing that agreement, things have changed…

The company stopped letting staff bill an hour a week for session notes. It lost its Medicaid contract. Nobody, BCBAs included, has had a raise in two years. When a client has speech or OT during a session, that time isn't paid. Scheduled 9:30 to 4:30, they get paid for five and a half hours. Hours keep getting cut, and they're not even full-time now.

The exit price? About $15K.

They want out.

They can't afford to stay, or to leave.

The comments offered some practical next steps. The top reply suggested speaking with an employment attorney familiar with Michigan law, especially given how much the working conditions have changed since the agreement was signed.

The part nobody reads

Supervision through your job is a huge perk. But with a repayment clause, it's closer to a loan with a job attached.

Before you sign, read it slowly. How much would you owe, and how is it counted? Does it shrink over time? And what happens if the job you signed up for changes, like fewer hours, less pay, or a lost contract?

If you're already stuck, talk to an employment attorney or your state labor department.

Pair's Take

Our matchmakers ask about fieldwork deals before you're in one. Supervision terms should be clear on day one, not a surprise on the way out.

Want fieldwork without the fine print drama?

GET PAIRED

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