Originally Posted by Soxfan1

Exactly this. You had/have three options:

1. Take full bonus upfront/pay it back if you leave early (prorated possibly).
2. Defer bonus till it fully vests/don’t pay it back if you leave early.
3. Don’t take a dime/leave when you want.

It’s not mandatory to do option 1, so claiming indentured servitude would be countered by the fact you simply could have picked options 2 or 3 but didn’t. Taking bonus and taking the job are not one in the same. You can say no to bonus. Or defer it. Or take it all. It’s your choice but there are repercussions to each.