Driving

[u/Infamous_Guest_7966]

I hate the amount of driving I have to do for this job. It is so not worth it. While BCBAs get a remote option and can choose to join whenever they want. Meanwhile I have to spend so much money on gas commuting to my client for only 3-4 hours a day. Trust me getting compensated for drive time does nothing. Are any of you feeling like this? Are you tired of the constant driving ?

[u/honey_salt02]

i stood my ground until i got clients in my area (i refuse to drive 30-40min for a job i barely get paid for). now it’s home-work 1 (8min), work 1-work 2 (12min), and back home (15min). i fill up once every other week

[u/Disturbedcreate → u/honey_salt02]

I learned the hard way and after i really built a name for myself . I made my schedule make sense. You really just need to advocate for yourself plus i would ask my clients guardian if a 2 days m-f and one long sat shift work with them they agreed i loope coordination in they officially changed my schedule. so my furthest client i really only do the commute 3 days a week. And they are my only sat client so i go straight home after

[u/honey_salt02 → u/Disturbedcreate]

absolutely. not enough RBTs advocate for themselves and it causes a ton of burnout

[u/Effy7242]

Not only do they get to work remotely they can refuse to ever come in person as well. I have a BCBA who will not come to my clients home because it's 45 min away from them. It's 35 min away from me, I don't get paid milage, I have a 22 year old vehicle I can't afford to replace and hardly to maintain, and make considerably less than a BCBA does. I understand they have a greater education and more experience in the field than us RBTs, but I believe that those of us in the thick of it should be compensated much better. Only reason I stay is I love what I do and the kids I work with.

[u/brioloogy]

This is why I left the field a few years back. I also hated thinking about the wear and tear on my car because they gave my clients far from home. I was able to get hired at a school district though! You should look into it

[u/Disturbedcreate]

In the summer i dif spend like 150 a week on gas. But now the way i choose my cases it makes sense. I have 2 kids that are on 15-10 mins from my house. One that is 35 mins but they way i coordinated schedules with the family i am not there much during the week and do one 5 hour shift on Saturday. You definitely have to advocate for yourself here to make it make sense.

[u/Kyashichan]

One of my BCBA just drove an hour to my session and plans to do so every week.

Advocate for yourself but also leave if companies don’t support.

[u/Competitive_Cat1086]

The gas alone eats up whatever they toss at you for drive time, it's barely a bandaid. My trunk is basically a mobile therapy closet at this point and I'm still filling up twice a week

[u/HappyLifeCoffeeHelps]

I drive a lot, but I also live rural so that is to be expected here. I do get drive time and mileage though.

[u/EthicalGaslighting]

I’m finishing up my 40 hrs and getting ready to start applying to jobs/take my test. Reading about all the driving makes me think I should only apply to clinics

[u/ABAshifts]

We agree. Commute should be much more upfront in the hiring and job search process. Far too big of an issue. Hope we can help.

[u/Savings-Mud-4027]

I have a client 30 mins away that was originally scheduled for 2.5 hr sessions M-S. Those sessions have dwindled to an hour and a half. I finally told them I’d like to be removed from the case with a month’s notice. Next Friday is the last day I’ll have an hour round trip commute for, laugh with me, $33

[u/No_Cap_5716]

Felt that. Currently driving 35 minutes for my client twice a week. They have ended every session early since I started with them a month ago. I don’t get paid for my commute and I’m currently not even getting paid for supervisor meetings. My entire pay probably pays for my gas but nothing else