Long service leave is a paid leave entitlement for employees who have continuous employment with one and the same employer for a specified period.

The majority of private sector Western Australian businesses and employees in both the state and national industrial relations systems are covered by the state Long Service Leave Act 1958. Detailed information is available on the Long service leave – Who is covered by the Long Service Leave Act? page.

Under the Long Service Leave Act, the long service leave entitlement for full time, part time and casual employees is:

• after 10 years of continuous employment with the one and the same employer – 8^2/3 (8.667) weeks of leave on ordinary pay;
• for every 5 years of continuous employment with the one and the same employer after the initial 10 years – 4^1/3 (4.333) weeks of leave on ordinary pay.

In most cases, when employment ends after at least 7 years of continuous employment, the employee is entitled to pro rata long service leave. The WA long service leave calculator can provide an estimate of an employee’s long service leave entitlement when employment ends.

Visit the long service leave section of the Wageline website for extensive information on the entitlement to long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act.