The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1)        Civil no-contact order. – An order granted under this Article, which includes a remedy authorized by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-264

(2)        Employer. – Any person or entity that employs one or more employees. Employer also includes the State of North Carolina and its political subdivisions.

(3)        Unlawful conduct. – Unlawful conduct means the commission of one or more of the following acts upon an employee, but does not include acts of self-defense or defense of others:

a.         Attempting to cause bodily injury or intentionally causing bodily injury.

b.         Willfully, and on more than one occasion, following, being in the presence of, or otherwise harassing, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-277.3A, without legal purpose and with the intent to place the employee in reasonable fear for the employee’s safety.

c.         Willfully threatening, orally, in writing, or by any other means, to physically injure the employee in a manner and under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the threat is likely to be carried out and that actually causes the employee to believe that the threat will be carried out. ?(2004-165, s. 1; 2009-58, s. 7.)