Supportive co-workers and clients, but poor management - RBT - Registered Behavior Technician Advance Kids Employee Review

Steady hours, I saw kids every day, supportive staff

Sometimes can overwork you when there is high turnover

Taco Bell is only 2 minutes away.

After many years working in ABA across different settings and companies, this was by far the most stressful and micromanaged environment I have experienced. The overall culture felt punitive rather than supportive. Employees constantly felt like they had to walk on eggshells because management would criticize even minor issues, including things as small as handwriting. Instead of fostering professional growth, leadership appeared more focused on control and maintaining appearances. One major concern repeatedly discussed among staff was the lack of transparency regarding raises after becoming an RBT. Multiple employees expressed frustration that compensation expectations discussed during hiring did not align with reality after certification was completed. Benefits were also disappointing. Employees had to wait six months just to even be considered for insurance eligibility, while PTO accrual was extremely poor compared to other ABA providers. Another serious concern was the lack of professionalism and sensitivity surrounding race and gender. Employees expressed discomfort over inappropriate comments regarding appearance and professionalism, including remarks directed at a Black employee about her natural hair. Situations like this contributed to an environment where staff did not feel respected or psychologically safe. Management also demonstrated very little empathy toward employees experiencing legitimate personal or medical hardships. The company’s unwillingness to reasonably accommodate real-life situations — including dismissing doctor’s notes — created an environment that felt rigid and unsupportive rather than human-centered. Favoritism was another recurring issue. Certain employees would be reprimanded for things that other employees openly did without consequences, creating an inconsistent and unfair work environment. Expectations and discipline often depended more on who management favored rather than clear, consistent standards. Leadership often seemed more concerned with company image than employee well-being or clinical support. Statements such as “the data makes me look bad” reflected priorities that frequently felt centered on optics over meaningful support for staff and clients. Another concerning pattern was how management handled employee discipline. Instead of addressing concerns constructively in real time, issues often seemed quietly documented over long periods and later used against employees during termination discussions. The constant micromanagement, fear-based management style, lack of empathy, favoritism, and poor communication created an unhealthy workplace culture with extremely high stress and burnout. I would strongly encourage RBTs and BCBAs considering employment here to thoroughly research and compare other ABA providers before accepting a position.