NSW long service leave calculator

After 10 years’ continuous service you are entitled to 2 months (8.67 weeks), then 1 month (4.33 weeks) for each further 5 years. Leave before 10 years is only possible if your employer agrees to it in advance.

Under 5 years, no. Between 5 and 10 years, you are paid pro rata only if your employer ended your employment (other than for serious and wilful misconduct), you resigned because of illness, incapacity, domestic or other pressing necessity, or you died. After 10 years, pro rata is paid whatever the reason.

It must be a genuine necessity that reasonably led you to resign, not a lifestyle choice. NSW Industrial Relations’ examples include moving for a family member’s health or to keep the family together, wages too low to meet essential family commitments, and marrying and relocating.

The same way as NSW Industrial Relations’ Long Service Leave Accrual Calculator: actual days between your start and end dates (the end date itself isn’t counted) over the actual year length, less any days that don’t count as service. Years are rounded to 2 decimals, then multiplied by 13/15. The 5 and 10-year tests use calendar months.

Yes, if they have continuous service with the same employer.

Ordinary pay excludes shift, overtime and penalty rates and expense allowances, but includes casual loading. For a fixed ordinary rate it is the higher of your current ordinary pay and your average weekly ordinary pay over the last 5 years. For commission, output, multiple rates or bonuses, it is the higher of your average weekly wage over the last 12 months or 5 years.

Yes, they can be added to ordinary pay in some cases. This calculator doesn’t model them yet.

NSW Industrial Relations’ updated long service leave guidance and guide apply from 1 March 2026. The Act itself hasn’t changed.

Some national system workers get long service leave from an enterprise agreement or an older federal award instead. Check your award or agreement, or ask the Fair Work Ombudsman.