I was just curious.I know this isn't fair but is it illegal?

My brother applied for a job as a dispatcher, and he was interviewed and got the job.
He was told that the hours were from 3PM to 1AM.
He reported to work to find out that the dispatcher job was filled and he was given a job on computers in the billing department.
He had never done this kind of work and after two weeks of trying, he was fired.
Like I said, I know this isn't fair, but is it illegal to hire someone for a job and then not give it to them.
Then assign them to a position that he didn't apply for?

I really appreciate all the quick and helpful responses and I am getting the feeling that it is not fair but legal and it would cost a fortune to find out

This is a really good question as this is common practice in American companies. I was hired by DuPont as an accountant and the day I went to work, They told me to report to the mail room for 6 months (or until they hired another person to replace me there). 4 years of college and accepted for a job to go to the mail room. I did my six months and was on the vacation list for the mail room (based upon seniority) and they came to me on Friday when I was to leave on vacation and told me I had a mail room replacement and report to accounting on Monday. I said what about vacation and was told to go to that department Monday and get on their list based upon their seniority. I Quit that day and will bad mouth them forever. Had I known then what I know now, I would have sued. My Advice to you is SUE. Call the ACLU now. Oh, I forgot, My mother is one of the DuPont Shapiro's. And I now know a lady whose husband worked for dupont for 30 years and she worked there for 20 years. When he died, they reduced her combined retirement (for the both of their 50 years) to $34 a month and cancelled her insurance for some other kind that pays very little.

Nope...
It is not illegal..

It sounds illegal to me.

Unless there was a signed contract, it is not illegal.

no - in most cases, its at-will - the employer or the employee can fire/quit at any time with no reason.
not exactly how it should've happened, but i'm not sure there's much that can be done

Yes it is legal & they can fire you without any reason for the first 90 days (probationary period),

Completely legal. In fact, they may even be able to argue it in court if he did sign a contract with him, if the job pays as well and is anywhere close to similar in the description they have lined out in their employee manuals, because they are actively trying to accommodate him instead of just turning him away.

did he and the employer sign a contract?
If not, then I would think he won't have a chance to prove that he was hired.
If yes, it will depend on the small print.

I don't think it's illegal. However, it does sound like a tort. If your brother relied on the representation that he would be given that particular job to his detriment, he should be able to sue them for damages. In other words, if your brother put off another opportunity in order to follow this job, which turned out to be a negligent misrepresentation, he should be able to claim damages for his lost job opportunity and his costs.

i'm not sure. but, what comes to mind is an argument that they had a contract involving his job description which was breached when they required him to do other work for which he was not suited, and to which he did not agree, instead. a true shot in the dark. and, what would be his damages?--which must be proved. perhaps a small claims court thing? it costs little to file, and you represent yourself. a little research could prove not too boring, if you're so inclined. good luck! ;-) so it's not illegal in the criminal sense, but could create that breach of contract action, civilly.