What happens if the respondent violates the order?
The punishment for a respondent who violates a workplace no-contact order is “contempt of court,” which may include a fine or jail time.1
1 N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 95-264(c); 95-269
Can a workplace no-contact order be extended or terminated?
An order may be extended one or more times if the employer files a motion to renew before the order expires. The employer must show that there is a good reason (good cause) for the order to be extended. However, it is not necessary to prove that the respondent has continued his/her unlawful conduct since the order was initially granted.
If the respondent appears at the court hearing, s/he can object to the extension and it will be up to the judge to decide. If the respondent does not appear, the judge can grant the employer’s request based only on the motion papers filed, as long as there has been no significant (material) change in circumstances since the order was issued.1
1 N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-267(c)