North Carolina does not have a general meal and rest period law, but there are provisions requiring employers to give minors and employees in certain occupations a specified number of hours off duty before they return to work. There are also provisions protecting the right of a mother to nurse her child in public.

Minors. Youths under 16 years of age may not be employed for more than five consecutive hours without an interval of at least 30 minutes for rest. No period of less than 30 minutes is deemed to interrupt a continuous period of work.

Railroad employees. Railroad employees who have been on duty for 16 continuous hours must receive a rest period of at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before being returned to work. Railroad employees who have been on duty for a total of 16 nonconsecutive hours in a 24-hour period must have at least eight consecutive hours off duty before being returned to work.

Teachers. All full-time assigned classroom teachers must be provided a daily duty free period during regular student contact hours. Principals must not unfairly burden a teacher by making that teacher give up his or her duty free period on an ongoing, regular basis without the consent of the teacher.

Nursing mothers. A woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be.