A friend of mine almost always works overtime to complete her job duties. There is no one at the job site that does the same type of work to help share the load. Her boss is in California, where the company has its headquarters. He communicates with her via email. Overtime is not allowed or paid. Yet, if she does not stay 30 minutes to 3 hours over, and skips her lunch (and the boss knows that she must do this to get everything done,) the work is waiting for her the next day. She is reprimanded for holding things up.

Having worked with her, I know that she is both fast and competent. Something is wrong. What can she do?

Her training has been inadequate, not enough. Then she must ask for help with the new procedures by emailing California although someone could help in her own office. They will not!

She works in Washington state and has been told that that is simply how things are done in California.

Does she have an employment contract? Does she belong to a Union? Otherwise it's pretty much employment at will which means she can be let go at any time for any real or imagined employment problem. If she is REQUIRED to work extra hours without being paid she must contact Wage and Hour in her State and file a complaint.

Most likely the filing will lead to her termination.

With the economy what it is your friend is most definitely not the only one being "abused" in the name of employment.

Here is a site that may be helpful.
Understanding Overtime (http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/Wages/Overtime/WhenApply/default.asp)

It may be best if she tries finding another job.
It sounds like they have very unrealistic expectations and demands,

Unfortunately Judy is right once you make waves they put you on the list to want you out asap

Thanks you guys. I've forwarded the link and told her what you had to say.

Same thing happened to me once. I kept track of the overtime and after I quit, I contacted the U.S. Department of Labor. They told me that I had to give the company a chance to fix it before they filed a complaint.

When I contacted the company, I told them what the U.S. Department of Labor said. I got paid for my overtime -- without a fight. However, I do not know what to tell you about getting paid for the overtime while still working for the company.