Employers may not listen to or record their employees’ wire communications unless at least one party to the communication consents.
The current minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25.
The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act exempts many employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, such as those who work in the commerce or production of goods for commerce, from their minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, and recordkeeping requirements.
The North Carolina minimum wage is required to be the same amount as federal minimum wage if it is higher than what is set forth in the Wage and Hour Act.
The minimum wage for tipped employees in North Carolina is $2.13.
Employers may pay the tipped minimum wage if:
The employee typically makes more than $20 per month in tips.
The employee is notified that they will be paid the lower minimum wage.
The employee is allowed to keep all tips.
The employer keeps an accurate and thorough record of all tips made each pay period.
Employers are allowed to require tipped employees to participate in a tip pooling arrangement.
Employers must pay overtime to non-exempt employees at the rate of 1 ½ times the normal rate for any hours worked past 40 in a workweek.
The federal overtime rule laid out in the Fair Labor Standards Act stipulates that the minimum salary requirement for administrative, professional, and executive exemptions is $684 per week, or $35,568 per year.
Employers aren’t required to provide rest breaks or meal breaks for employees.
If they choose to provide meal periods, they don’t have to be paid if the employee is not working during the period.
Any additional breaks employers choose to provide must be paid.
Employers are required to give minors 14 and 15 years of age a 30-minute break after five consecutive hours are worked.