A guide to long service leave entitlements
Long service leave is a type of leave awarded to workers who have been with the same employer for more than seven or 10 years, depending on the state. Full-time, part-time and casual long service leave entitlements Australia are calculated slightly differently, but all involve an extended period of paid leave after a certain number of years of employment.
Every state has slightly different regulations regarding long service leave, so how much you are entitled to depends on where you’ve been working. In this article, we cover long service entitlements for different types of employment.
Who is entitled to long service leave?
If you’re wondering, “Am I entitled to long service leave?” The good news is, most full-time and part-time workers are entitled to long service leave after working for the same employer for more than seven to 10 years. Workers in certain industries are eligible for “portable long service leave” even if they’ve worked for different employers within the same industry. Full-time, part-time and casual long service leave are all calculated based on total ordinary working hours.
While most Australians can claim long service leave, some employees may not be eligible depending on the long service leave provisions for their award or agreement. There are also some different standards for employees who have been with the same company for between five and 10 years, as some states allow workers a payout upon leaving a company they’ve been at for this amount of time.
Accruing your long service leave
When are you entitled to long service leave? In most cases, after 10 years of service with one employer, you accrue 8.67 weeks of long service leave. There are a few differences between states that mean you may be entitled to more long service leave depending how long you have been with your employer.
Queensland long service leave accrual
As well as 8.67 weeks of long service leave after 10 years, Queensland employees are also entitled to pro-rata arrangements after seven years of service. These pro-rata arrangements allow you to receive a payment if you leave your employer or are let go due to incapacity, illness or unfair treatment. You can also double your long service leave period and be paid half your regular weekly rate, if your employer agrees. To be eligible for long service leave, you must not take a break of three or more months between employment with the same workplace (not including paid or unpaid parental leave).
New South Wales long service leave accrual
In New South Wales, you’re entitled to two months of paid leave after 10 years of service with the same employer, as well as an additional month of long service leave per five years following. You’re also entitled to a pro-rata long service leave payment after five years of service if you’re no longer able to continue your employment with the company due to incapacity, illness or domestic necessity, or if you are terminated for any reason other than serious misconduct.
Victoria long service leave accrual
Full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal and fixed-term employees in Victoria are eligible for eight weeks of long service leave after seven years of service with the same employer. This equals about 0.867 of accrued long service leave per week. You can take your long service leave in advance if your workplace agrees, as well as doubling your long service leave for half your weekly pay rate.
Tasmania long service leave accrual
All employee types are entitled to 8.67 weeks of long service leave after 10 years of employment in Tasmania, plus 4.33 weeks of long service leave for each five years of service thereafter. You may also be entitled to pro-rata payment arrangements after seven years if you are terminated for any other reason than serious misconduct or can no longer continue your employment due to incapacity, illness or domestic needs.
Western Australia long service leave accrual
Full-time, part-time, seasonal, casual, apprentice and trainee employees in Western Australia are entitled to 8.67 weeks of paid long service leave after 10 years, followed by 4.33 every five years. All paid leave counts towards the accrual of long service leave, but unpaid leave, including unpaid parental leave, does not accrue long service leave.
South Australia long service leave accrual
In South Australia, full-time, part-time and casual employees are entitled to 13 weeks of long service leave after 10 years of service to the same employer, accruing a further 1.3 weeks of leave for each following year. Paid leave through the South Australian Government parental leave scheme does not accrue long service leave. Pro-rata arrangements are available after seven years of employment.
Australian Capital Territory long service leave accrual
After seven years of service, full-time, part-time and casual workers in the ACT are entitled to 6.0667 weeks of long service, with a further 1.086 weeks of leave each year after. You can take up to two weeks of sick leave per year without your long service leave accrual being impacted. You’re also entitled to pro-rata arrangements after five years of service.
Calculating your long service leave entitlement
In most cases, long service leave entitlements can be calculated by dividing your number of hours you typically work in the year by 52, then multiplying by 8.6667, then dividing by 10.
Example:
Full-time worker name: Tom
Industry: Finance
Total hours worked in the year: 9600 Hours
Length of service: 10 Years
To work out his long service leave entitlement Tom would divide his total hours worked in the year by 52. He would then multiply this number by 8.6667, then divide by 10.
Step 1: 9,600 / 52 = 184.61
Step 2: 184.61 x 8.6667 = 1,599.96
Step 3: 1,599.96 / 10
Total = 160 Hours
This may vary slightly depending on your state and their specific long service leave guidelines.
Your workplace’s human resources department will be able to help you with any questions specific to your time worked and state regulations. The Australian Fair Work Ombudsman is also a good resource, as are your state's long service leave agencies. You can also use a long service leave calculator for your state.
Long service leave upon termination of employment
If you leave a company or your employment is terminated before you’ve taken any accrued long service leave, you’ll receive a payment for the amount of accrued leave. This includes if you resign, are made redundant or are terminated for any reason. In some states, you may also be entitled to a payout for long service at five or seven years of service, granted you are resigning due to incapacity, illness or for domestic necessity, or have not been terminated for misconduct.
How to take your long service leave entitlement
The specific steps you take to redeem your long service leave depend on your workplace, so check your workplace's leave policies for what to do.
1. Speak with your HR
The first step in applying to take long service leave is speaking with your human resources (HR) department to find out exactly how much you’re owed. Every state has different guidelines, but your HR team will know how to calculate your accrued amount of leave and advise whether you can rollover any untaken long service leave.
2. Plan to take your long service leave
You’re legally entitled to take the full eight weeks of your long service leave in one block, however your employer might agree to you using it in smaller blocks, if that’s what you prefer. To make the most of your time off, it’s worthwhile planning what you’ll do with your leave well before you take it. Things like going on a long trip or enrolling in classes should be planned in advance so you can maximise the time away from work. Being intentional in how you spend your leave can make it more enjoyable.
3. Exercise your long service leave entitlement
Once you know how and when you’d like to take your long service leave, it’s time to lodge your request for time off. Your workplace will have a process for requesting leave, whether that’s submitting a request through a portal or by emailing your manager.
4. Enjoy your break
Before you go on leave, let your colleagues and any clients know how long you’ll be away for, and provide any work notes your coworkers might need while you’re away. Ensure you set up your email out of office reply so you can properly switch off and enjoy your break.
Long service leave is an entitlement for all employees in Australia after working for the same employer or in the same industry for seven up to 15 years. Each state has slightly different regulations regarding long service leave entitlements and how they can be redeemed, so check the guidelines in your state or territory and speak to your HR manager to find out how they apply to you.
FAQs
What are long service entitlements?
Long service entitlements are a period of leave granted to employees who have been with an employer or within the same industry for seven, and up to 15, years. Each state in Australia has different regulations.
Do you get long service leave after 5 years in NSW?
Yes, there are certain circumstances where you can receive long service leave after five years in NSW. To receive long service leave, NSW employees who’ve worked five or more years will need to have resigned due to illness, incapacity, or domestic or pressing necessity, or be terminated for any other reason than serious and wilful misconduct.
Can I take long service leave after 7 years in Queensland?
No, you cannot take long service leave after seven years in Queensland, but you may be able to receive a payout if you leave your employer. Long service leave entitlements in QLD mean employees can receive include a prorated payment for being unfairly dismissed or having employment terminated due to illness or incapacity.
Can you cash out long service leave in Victoria?
No, you cannot cash out long service leave in Victoria, and employers and employees doing so may be committing an offence. You can receive a payment for unused long service leave if you leave the company.
How long do I need to work with a company to qualify for long service leave?
You need to work for a single employer for seven or more years to qualify for long service leave (though some types of workers are entitled to “portable long service leave”). Some states have pro-rata long service leave entitlements for people who have worked continuously for the same company for five or seven years.
When am I entitled to long service leave?
You are entitled to long service leave if you’ve worked with the same employer or in the same industry for more than seven years – and up to 15 years – the number of years depends on the state or territory you’re in.
Do I earn long service leave if I work part-time?
Yes, you can earn long service leave if you are a part-time worker. In most Australian states, full-time, part-time and casual workers are entitled to long service leave.
How much long service leave do I accrue each year?
After 10 years of employment, you may be entitled to two or more months of paid leave. In some states, you can accrue long service leave after five or seven years, and receive additional time for each six years of service following the initial 10 years of long service.
How far in advance do I need to give notice before taking a long service leave?
Each workplace has different policies on how much notice you need to give before taking long service leave. In most states, if an agreed time cannot be reached between the employer and employee, either party can give three months' notice for taking leave.
How is my long service leave pay calculated?
Long service leave is calculated by dividing the number of ordinary hours worked by 52, multiplying by 8.6667 and then dividing by 10.
Do long service leave entitlements differ depending on which state or territory I work in?
Yes, long service entitlements differ depending on the state or territory you work in. For example, long service leave entitlements WA has in place are different to the long service entitlements NT has in place, and different again to long service entitlements ACT has, and so on.
