Decreasing rate of pay without proper notice?

Question

If you work in a restaurant as a cook making $12.50 an hour and your employer pulls you from your postion as a cook (in the middle of your shift) to serve patrons, is it legal for them to decrease your pay rate to minumim wage? Please note that you have never worked as a server, in the several years of your employment you have always worked as a cook.

Answer 1

if you work for a national chain, then check the policy manual. If you work for a small indepedent, then the answer is probably yes. As you were not cooking, you would get the same compensation as the floor.

Answer 2

First impression I say no they cannot.

Talk to the Labor Board in your area.