Sick days

I have a friend that just got a kind of promotion at work. He was part of the grounds crew and accumulated 5 sick days but then was promoted to custodial work, which is more pay, full time and better benefits, but lost those 5 sick days and was not paid for them. He was promoted at his new position on August 1st and it comes with 12 sick days, which according to them is “after the day they give out sick days” (July 1st) so he won’t get his sick days until next July 1st 2026. Is this legal? Who can he go to? What are his best options?