The North Carolina Wage and Hour Act does not require mandatory rest breaks or meal breaks for employees 16 years of age or older. The WHA requires breaks only for youths less than 16 years of age. Youths under 16 years of age have to be given at least a 30­minute break after 5 consecutive hours. The North Carolina law on breaks for youths under 16 years of age generally applies only to enterprises that have gross sales or receipts of less than $500,000.00 a year and to private non­profit organizations.