Long service leave

Long service leave is a reward for employee loyalty, offered after working with the same employer for a certain period, often many years. This leave is longer than usual annual leave and is paid. The exact time required to qualify for long service leave and the amount of leave available varies, usually set by state or territory long service leave legislation and, in a few cases, by an older award or registered agreement. It's a way to acknowledge and reward long-term commitment to an employer.

Long service leave rules by state

Each state and territory has its own long service leave law, so the qualifying period and the amount of leave differ. For example, in New South Wales an employee gets 2 months (8.67 weeks) of paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous service under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW). Part-time and casual employees can also qualify if their service is continuous. Some industries, such as building and construction, have portable schemes that follow workers between employers.

Read our guide to what employers need to know about long service leave.