Is an employer allowed to work you 5 days without pay?

If you do not have a personal contract or a union contract then the employer can do pretty much as he pleases. If you want the job you will have to agree to his terms. If you do not agree then you do not get the job. But it seems pretty stupid to me. Why not just pay everyone a little less and pay them for every day they work?

No it isn't.

Why not let employees work 365 days without pay to make things way more efficient?

If you worked, you get paid. Training, cleaning, meeting, whatever.... you get paid. Not 1 day, not 5 day, and certainly not 365 days your employer can make you work without a pay.

Are you sure you heard that correctly, though? It's so blatantly against the law, I doubt any employer will actually say or do anything like this.

Normally 'NO' but it depends upon your contract.

sounds like a crock

is it a union job ?

my son recently got a job at walmart and her was told he had to work an 8 hour shift on sundays without pay. Can they do that? i've never heard of that..

Depends on what country you are in. But generally, no. You work the hours mean they pay you.