This is California, USA.
My friend is fresh out of undergrad and recently started a job at a medical clinic. After 1 training day and 3 working days, they were told they are not up to speed and that they will be demoted to fewer hours and working without pay.
California is an at will state, so their employer can demote them and lower pay for whatever reason, but is it legal to cut pay completely? They basically went from employee to unpaid intern/volunteer. They willingly agreed because they need a rec letter for med school and don’t want to push buttons, but I am seething at the idea of them being taken advantage of.
Everything was verbal agreements so not sure how much can be done.
What would you do in this situation?