Thought I'd share my experience from a couple years ago. Got a job for a start up CBD extraction and farming company in Louisville KY. I'd previously had about over a decade experience working on machinery at other auto plants in the area. I was offered the position of maintenance manager.
I spent the next year working my ass off getting the plant up and running. Saved them tens of thousands by doing almost everything in house. The position already paid significantly less than I previously made but it was a cool job and first shift which was very important to me. Was hired on salaried and was told I'd work longer hours summer and fall but it would be made up by short weeks through winter.
The guy running it, Keith Sprau, turned out to be a total con man. Constantly lying to employees and screwing everyone on pay. I think he initially didn't try to screw me around because the other jobs were entry level whereas it would have been more difficult to get someone with my background at the pay they were offering.
Things started falling apart on the business end and I began to notice I was getting screwed on my drive time reimbursement (I'd have to visit the farm to work on equipment, it was an hour and a half drive) and then on my paycheck. After finally getting ahold of Keith, the COO, I was told that I was salary only when working over 40 hours and hourly if I worked fewer. I texted him a link to “take this job and shove it”, got my shit and left.
TLDR; Took a job with a shady business, worked all year at 50-60 hours a week at salary. When business slowed and I was there 30 hours a week was told I was now hourly