Can someone switch from a non-b visa to a tourist visa in Thailand without leaving the country for a border run?

Hi everyone, wondering if anyone can help me please. My friend's non-b and work permit are expiring on Wednesday next week. They're being hired by the same school but was given a decision very late that they are to be hired again and now they've run out of enough days on their non-b for them (the school) to renew the work permit and then for the visa to be renewed. So my question is, is it possible to go from a non-b, once expired, to a tourist visa so that there is enough time to process the new work permit? And also, would they have to do a border run or is it possible to avoid that completely by going onto the tourist visa? Thanks in advance