Originally Posted by brocklee9000

They do not. It’s an up-front payment, now $50K. You either pay it back + interest (dumb, but unfortunately just how it is) if you leave. Or you stay for 3 years and you’re off the hook. Anyone hired in 2023 would have the bonus reported to the IRS in 2026 and it would be part of the return policy you file in April 2027 (the $50k plus whatever interest accrued over 3 years, even though you were only given $50K; that’s the contentious part for many)

Again, the interest-bearing part is dumb. But if you have any intent to stay for a while, and don’t touch the money during the 36 months, for better or worse you make an extra $50K. Since it’s only been offered for 3 classes so far, most people here are speculating.

Many people in my class took it. I can’t speak definitively about the next two groups but I believe people are mostly taking it. Word on the street was that you could decline the bonus and request they rewrite the offer letter to omit the bonus language. But someone from a more recent class would have to chime in to confirm.