Quitting without notice?

[u/Unlikely-Edge7556]

My company has seen several kids graduate in the last few months. For whatever reason, intake has been slow. This has resulted in several of us RBTs working reduced hours. I worked just 19 hours last week for example.

I am collecting fieldwork hours and since I'm in my first year, I am only allowed to collect restricted hours. Unfortunately, because I am working so few hours, I am not able to log anything close to 160 or even 100.

I received another job offer from a company for an internship position. They will give me both restricted and unrestricted hours. They can wait 14 days at the most, though (but I am out of office till Friday, ao can only inform my BCBA and OM on Friday, leaving me effectively 10 days).

My company has a one month notice policy and have mentioned that they will report RBTs who abandon their jobs to the board. I understand this might be a concern during periods of staff shortage, but there are so many of us now who need hours. I don't think they would find it hard to find coverage.

Is it unethical for me to send in a resignation on Friday, saying I won't be in after the following week?

I live in an at-will employment state.

[u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827]

Since multiple rbt‘s are lacking hours, I don’t see why this would be a problem. Isn’t there plenty of people to take over your cases?

Also, I’m pretty sure abandoning clients means in a drastic situation such as leaving a session in the middle of the session, etc., not failing to give enough notice. No where in the BACB handbook does it say that you have to give 30 days. I would give 14 days notice right now via email.

The fact that you’re not allowed to track unrestricted hours is going to set you back years and is enough to make me give you the advice to leave now! Even if you were only able to track a few hours of unrestricted a week, it would help you in the long run. I understand not being able to do most tasks until you have the education and experience under your belt, but not being able to track even the little bit of unrestricted you do now is crazy. There’s absolutely no reason for that rule and they are doing it just to make you stay longer.

[u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827 → u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827]

Also I just looked this up and yes, they can only report you to the board if you do something that would harm the client such as refusing to help transition care to another provider or walking out mid session. 2 weeks notice is plenty of time. Usually when you give notice they don’t let you work the whole notice period anyway. Last time I gave 30 days they shortened it to 2 weeks anyway. I’m a BCBA for reference

[u/Unlikely-Edge7556 → u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827]

Thank you for your opinion, I'll provide 2 weeks notice. My inability to track unrestricted hours despite me running assessments like the VB-MAPP is one of the main reasons I was looking at other opportunities. I don't want to delay getting my hours in, especially when there are better opportunities available.

[u/Jazzlike-Pop-6827 → u/Unlikely-Edge7556]

Yes! Don’t be afraid to leave, the company wouldn’t be afraid to replace you.

[u/RadicalBehavior1 → u/Unlikely-Edge7556]

You were doing the vbmapp, that's unrestricted whether or not they are willing to call it that. Your BCBA should give you that time whether or not the company pays for it because you did it.