Can an employer lower your wages?

I was a lifeguard working at a fitness club making $9.25 an hour, the season ended so I moved to the front desk. But when I moved to the front desk they lowered my pay to $7.50 an hour. Is that legal? Can they actually lower someone’s pay even though I never left the job then came back. I worked there the whole time. Please help me shed some light on this grey area.

Even in California, your hourly rate can be reduced, as is true for the other 49 states (unless you have a contract that does not allow that).

In some states, you need advanced notice of the change (I suspect California is in that category). In my state, we would have to tell you today if your pay will be different tomorrow. In others, you could show up for work and find out that your pay rate has been cut.

California does have that requirement. But there is no stated time frame; just before the hours are worked at the lower rate.

And actually, it makes sense that a lifeguard would make more than a front desk person. I would have asked. :)