That's the other game a lot of employers play, they'll classify you as a 1099 to avoid those pesky worker rights.

You have no other options because you need the money.

My friend who wasn't paid at all was told by a lawyer it wasn't worth pursuing.

So much of our legal system, and really society is based off gentlemen agreements. You don't still someone out of 600$ in wages because you don't do that.

When that gentlemen agreement is broken, realistically no lawyer is going to open a case over 600$, you have no real recourse.