What can he so about work related ussues

As for the pay, it is too hard to tell on just these facts.  If he is a non-exempt employee, then the employer nee pay him no more than minimum wage for all hours worked and time and a half over hours over 40 in a week. The employer has no duty to pay any employee more than minimum wage unless it has there is a wage promise of greater than minimum wage.  The promised wage must be in writing. There is no employment law in North Carolina that prohibits an employer from being "abusive."  There are laws that prohibit harassment, but only if the harassment is based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability or age 40 or older.  Also, the law does not require any breaks for an employee who is 17 or older except breaks required by federal law for certain occupations (such as driving time limits for longhaul truck drivers).