No, the true minimum is -infinity, and $0 is quite common. The legal minimum wage just excludes a particular range. Jobs that would naturally be in that range g

No, the true minimum is -infinity, and $0 is quite common. The legal minimum wage just excludes a particular range. Jobs that would naturally be in that range get pushed to one side or the other, with working conditions adjusting to compensate. Some jobs go to 0, called "volunteer work" or "unpaid internship", and they get friendly conditions. There might be very flexible hours, a nice break room with delicious snacks, and work-sponsored parties. Some other jobs go to the legal minimum wage, with work conditions degrading. The employer becomes more demanding because that is possible at the increased level of pay. Hours become inflexible for the employee, but flexible on short notice for the employer. The break room gets bad-value vending machines. People get fired for trivial things.