Q: Is it legal for Knack to withhold tutor payment due to student recap requirement?
I am a tutor at my university using Knack tutoring to schedule and meet with students. Recently, Knack introduced a feature that requires students to submit a session recap. Knack stated, "You'll receive payment once each student completes a recap of the session." This is problematic because I have no control over whether students submit this recap, and Knack didn't initially mention that payment could be withheld due to an incomplete recap. I am classified as a 1099 employee, with an agreement to be paid weekly. Knack offers a one-time forgiveness for instances where students forget to submit the recap, but beyond that, they refuse to issue payment for unpaid sessions. Despite contacting Knack support, their only advice is to reach out to the student. Is it legal for Knack to withhold my payment because a student has not completed this form?
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A:
That’s a frustrating situation, especially when you’ve already done the work and are being told payment depends on something completely out of your control. As a 1099 independent contractor in Massachusetts, you are still entitled to be paid for the services you provide under the terms agreed upon. If Knack never included the student recap condition in your original agreement, adding it later as a requirement for payment could be considered a breach of contract or an unfair practice.
Tying your compensation to a student's action—especially one you're not responsible for—can raise legal concerns, particularly if there was no advance notice or opportunity to consent to that change. Even if they claim this new policy is part of a platform update, withholding pay for work already completed may violate state wage laws or basic contract principles. Their “one-time forgiveness” doesn’t change the fact that they’re refusing payment for sessions that were delivered in good faith.
You can push back by requesting a written explanation of where in your original contract this recap condition is outlined. If it’s not there, make that clear in your reply and request immediate payment. If they continue to withhold funds, you may want to consider filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office or the Department of Labor Standards. You did your job—you deserve to be paid.
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