Job offered me a lateral transfer to a different department, Friday before my first day they said they were changing me to hourly and cut my pay. I cant afford to live in Cali anymore.

#Tried to fit this in the title, but I'm in Orange County California.

So as the title says, a few months ago my job offered me a position in a different department helping them automate their systems.

I started out as an account manager but because of my prowess with technology, I helped them integrate automation software into their workflow and increase productivity, something other account managers didn't have the skills to do.

As an account manager my salary was $70k/year with full benefits, and at the time I was hired I gave them that Salary because that was the minimum it would take me to stay in California as at the time I was hired, I was looking to move out of state.

Eventually they offered me a full time position to their automation department, and I was told it was a lateral transfer and that the transfer would not effect my pay or bennefits.

However after bugging them for ages, they finally gave me the official brief about the new position the Friday before I started the new position.

In this they said they were making me hourly as opposed to Salary, and that my hourly would be $26.5/hr. As Salary my hourly would have calculated out to $33.65/hr.

I was shocked because had I known, I'd never have agreed to the position change. Because its going from salary to hourly, I also lose all my vacation time that I'd accrued as a salary employee. Again, had I known, I'd have used more vacation days.

I'm especially frustrated because this new position is much more highly skilled than the previous position as an account manager since it'll be integrating IT, programming, and intrinsic knowledge of our print production process and the software we use.

Unfortunately due to all this, it means I can no longer afford to live where I do anymore according to the budget I have monthly.

And with this pay decrease, this no longer meets my minimum amount of money to stay in California, so I'm brushing off my resume and looking out of state.

So here are my questions:

• Is my job allowed to do this? Is there any protections in place for this kind of pay change?

• I've heard from friends that even though I wasn't fired, that because of the drastic pay decrease, I can apply for unemployment. Is this true for my case?

Bonus Question:

• Any reccomendations for places to move with relatively low cost of living(when compared to Orange County) and potential for people with Print industry knowledge?

Thank you!