The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act does not require mandatory rest breaks or meal breaks for employees 16 years of age or older. Neither federal nor North Carolina labor laws require employers to give employees rest or meal breaks if they are over the age of 16.North Carolina law does not require mandatory meal breaks or rest breaks for employees who are age 16 or older. North Carolina employers aren't legally required to give lunch breaks or rest breaks. Breaks should not interrupt continuous work if it lasts less than 30 minutes and is not deductible from wages. Also, the Wage and Hour Act does not require mandatory rest breaks or meal breaks for employees 16 years of age or older. Employers in North Carolina are not required to provide rest breaks or meal breaks for employees aged 16 and older. NC Department Of Labor : If an employer does offer breaks, they must be at least 30 minutes long to allow time deductions from pay. No, it is not illegal for employers to not offer their employees age 16 or older breaks per the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act. Generally, in North Carolina, employers are not required to provide breaks to employees eighteen (18) years of age or older.