In North Carolina, the workday can look different for everyone — from long shifts on a construction site to hours behind a cash register or in front of a computer. No matter the job, though, most workers find themselves wondering the same thing: when’s the chance to take a break?
A quick lunch or a moment to recharge can make all the difference during a workday, but the rules about who gets breaks, and when, aren’t always what people expect.
Here’s a breakdown of what North Carolina law actually says about rest and meal periods, and what that means for you on the clock.
No. North Carolina employers are not required to give rest or lunch breaks to employees over the age of 16, Lee Robertson, the managing partner at Robertson & Associates in Charlotte, told The Charlotte Observer.
The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act requires an employer to provide breaks to employees under the age of 16 of at least 30 minutes after working five hours consecutively, Robertson said.
However, this law only applies to businesses with gross sales of less than $500,000 annually and private non-profit organizations, according to the N.C. Department of Labor (NCDOL).
Yes. If an employer gives breaks, it has to be at least 30 minutes long for it to be unpaid, according to the NCDOL, meaning short breaks under 30 minutes must be paid.
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