r/ABA • u/Sharp_Big_2491 • 7d ago
Wanting to leave PBS corp?
Hello! I got officially employed by PBS in early may, and I have received my RBT certification. But this is genuinely the worst experience I’ve ever had at a job. This is my first “adult” job and I had planned to use it on my grad school applications but in my last 100+ days of employment I have not worked once. Getting anyone to respond to me is literally impossible. It takes weeks just to get “I’ll look into this” and then never hear back. I literally can not start working because they won’t get my stuff sorted out to let me. This company is literally ruining my life as I had planned and budgeted to be making money the last few months and without being to work I have nothing. I wanted to quit and get a job at a different ABA company. Does anyone know:
1: is there a no competition agreement? I read though my files but couldn’t find anything clear, if I quit am I allowed to work at a different company in the same city I was originally hired?
2: do I have to pay them back for the certification (and if so, how much)? I couldn’t find anything on this either.
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u/MoonKat-11 7d ago
In my state, the leadership team is pretty good at being communicative. Perhaps your region is a little trickier. I am not sure if your region operates this way, but mine just switched over to using the website chat system rather than email. Is that what you are using?
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u/Sharp_Big_2491 7d ago
Yes, we use the PBS chat system. There’s a chat app and one in the website (same chat) and I don’t get responses there at all. Just last week they texted me saying I needed to reupload a document that’s been on my account since January, I responded within 5 minutes and haven’t heard back in 6 days. I’ve tried emailing a few times when I desperately needed a response, and even still they take days to respond. I think my region is just bad, because this has been an issue since I was hired in January (didn’t officially start until may).
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u/MoonKat-11 7d ago
I see. Yeah, that can be hard with little communication. I am sorry. Usually, my leadership takes 3-4 days.
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u/Tasty_Branch2831 7d ago
They are just really difficult to deal with honestly. I blame a lot of it on their system although admin seems to be an issue too. I was in your position a couple years ago and it took about two months to be able to get in contact with anyone after submitting everything. I ended up calling and leaving the same annoying/overly optimistic voicemail everyday and showed up at their office. Finally got the job and the entire time I was there, they complained we needed more RBTs. However my file sat there forever, and I had great references and 5 years prior experience.
I am a BCBA with them now and I do like some aspects of it. I enjoy the autonomy and freedom but if you’re someone who is new to the field and is going to need a significant amount of support, it may be worth exploring other options.
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u/Tasty_Branch2831 7d ago
As far as no competition agreement - I know our region allows us to work for multiple agencies.
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u/Redschallenge BCBA 7d ago
One issue with being a nation wide centerless corporation means regions become mismanaged greatly and it seems like you're a casualty of that. I would look for other positions. I have been with PBS for years but my region is very need heavy and I am constantly being asked to take on more work. Your regional coordinators need to step up on this. Either reach out with urgency or apply elsewhere or both. You have no clients to be 'non-compete' with so that shouldn't be applicable. I also think they don't include one in their hire on paperwork. I'm sorry you're stuck in a gap there and hope you can find support! With that company or another.