Long Service Entitlements In NSW

Long service leave recognises the contribution of employees who have provided long and continuous service to the same employer by granting them a period of paid leave in addition to other statutory and contractual entitlements.

Many people are aware that long service leave usually becomes available after 10 years of service. What is less well known is that, in certain circumstances, an employee in New South Wales may be entitled to a pro rata long service leave payment after completing five years of service, even if they have not yet reached 10 years.

In NSW, long service leave is governed by the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) (the Act). Under that legislation, most employees become entitled to two months, or 8.67 weeks, of paid long service leave after completing 10 years of continuous service with the same employer. After the initial 10-year qualifying period an employee generally accrues a further one month’s long service leave for each additional five years of service.