There is a legal way to have a job even once the person has INS receipt about EAD filing.
The employee should fill out form I-9 to be hired legally from INS's point of view. Based on information from DOJ/INS, Instructions for Completing Form I-9, pages 12-19 (“Part Seven”):
If an employee is unable to present the document or documents, which confirm employment authorization, within 3 business days of the date employment begins, the employee must produce a receipt showing that he/she has applied for the document. In addition, the employee must present the actual document to employer within 90 days of the hire. The employee must have indicated on/or before the time employment began, by having checked an appropriate box in Section 1 of I-9 form, that he/she is already eligible to be employed in the United States.
NOTE: Employees hired for less than 3 business days must produce the actual document(s) and the I-9 must be fully completed at the time employment begins.
So, if a person follows above recommendations to fill out I-9 form, he/she may legally work for 90 days based on EAD receipt. Then in the best case he/she will obtain EAD and present it or, if EAD is pending more than 90 days, apply for an interim EAD, as described above. To be on safe side it is better to start job about 7 - 10 days after EAD receipt date. That way gives the person an ability to apply for an interim EAD 10 days before his/her lawful 90-day period of job expires.
