I work at a daycare center and was hired as a lead teacher however; the position was too much for me at this time in my life. And during my 30 day evaluation I requested to be put in a assistant teacher position (Keep in mind, that at the other two centers I previously worked at (as a teacher's assistant) I made the same amount as I was being paid there to be a lead teacher).

Two months after my 30 day evaluation on a Friday, I was called into the office and informed that my request for teacher's assistant was granted and my pay will be lowered but at the most it would decrease by twenty-five cents. When I questioned this statement I was told all teachers’ assistants receive the same amount of hourly pay.

However, on Monday I came to work and was informed through letter that my pay would be lowered a whole dollar! Plus the person they put to take the lead position has yet to come to work for the past three days so I have still been performing the lead's duties. Plus today I found out that my friend whom I referred to apply there for employment makes more money than I do and we have the same job title. My friend has no experience in the daycare and doesn't have any credits in early childhood education. I have over two years experience in daycare, over 30 credits in early childhood education, and numerous training hours.

Is it legal to lower someone's wages that much without a discussion or me signing any papers?
Can they change my pay and make me still perform the same duties as a higher paying position?
Is it legal to change pay in the middle of the pay period?

I just really don't know what to do, especially since I'm not suppose to know how much other people make and I don't want my friend to get in trouble. Any advice on what I should do would be great. Thanks in advance.

Is it legal to lower someone's wages that much without a discussion or me signing any papers?
Can they change my pay and make me still perform the same duties as a higher paying position?
Is it legal to change pay in the middle of the pay period?

Ohio law does not address the issue at all re wage reductions & is pretty "light" on most wage & hr. laws. So, technically, yes it would be legal to tell you even when you received your paycheck. It's not good management or practice but it isn't illegal.

Yes, they can change your wage & still have you perform duties of a higher paying position.

They don't have to treat all employees the same. They may have good reasons to pay others the way they do. It is not illegal as long as you aren't discriminated against based on a reason prohibited by law (ie age, religion, gender)

Do you have any type of employment contract?

I do have the paper they gave me that states my job title, start date, and time? Is that what you mean?

It's nearly impossible that such a document would be a contractual obligation.