Legal Question in Employment Law in California

They can threaten to fire you for not shining your shoes, or no reason at all, unless the reason is a violation of anti-discrimination protections on the basis of race, gender, etc. As for the fine, it depends on your compensation structure. They cannot fine you against wages or salary, but they can have a commission policy that makes commissions not earned if certain procedures are not followed. It sounds like you don't get that your job is to do the job you are hired and told to do. If you don't want to do the job the way they tell you to do it, you need to find another job. The employer is not obligated to pay, or keep, employees who don't do what the employer hires them to do, in the manner the employer wants it done. If all they care about is results, then can retain independent contractors who only get paid for results.