The Wage and Hour Bureau is responsible for enforcement of the N.C. Wage and Hour Act, Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act, Private Personnel Services Act and the Job Listing Services Act. The Bureau uses a combination of education and outreach efforts and regulatory investigations to assure compliance with these laws.
The Wage and Hour Act includes employee protection for minimum wage and overtime payments, payment of promised wages not normally covered by law, youth employment, and recordkeeping. The minimum wage, overtime and youth employment provisions generally parallel the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and apply to all businesses whose annual dollar volume is under $500,000. The minimum wage rate is currently $7.25 an hour in North Carolina.
Overtime is based on hours actually worked in a workweek and is generally paid for hours in excess of 40. Some exceptions and alternate methods of calculation are allowed. Written notification of promised wages, including changes, is required.
The goals of the NC Wage and Hour Bureaus are to:
- Increase labor law awareness
- Compliance through enforcement & education
- Quality Customer Service that is consistent and accurate