• Long service leave is a paid leave entitlement for full time, part time, casual and seasonal employees.
• Many private sector employers and employees in Western Australia are covered by the WA Long Service Leave Act 1958. 
• You can check the coverage of the Long Service Leave Act on the Long service leave – Who is covered by the Long Service Leave Act? page.
• The entitlement to long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act depends on the length of the employee’s continuous employment, which may include service with a previous employer where there has been a change of business ownership.

Long service leave when employment ends

Employees may have an entitlement to payment of long service leave when their employment ends.

Under the WA Long Service Leave Act, after 7 years of continuous employment a full time, part time, casual or seasonal employee may have an entitlement to payment of long service leave when their employment ends due to resignation, dismissal, redundancy or if the employee dies.

Find out more and watch our video on long service leave when employment ends on the Long service leave - What is the entitlement when employment ends? page.

The WA long service leave calculator can provide an estimate of the number of weeks of long service leave an employee must receive payment for when their employment ends.

Taking long service leave while still employed

Under the WA Long Service Leave Act, when a full time, part time or casual employee completes 10 years of continuous employment, they have an entitlement to take 8.667 weeks of long service leave. 

An employee will accrue a further 4.333 weeks of long service leave for every 5 years of continuous employment they complete after the initial 10 years. 

Find out more about taking long service leave on the Long service leave – Taking long service leave page.

Underpayment or non-payment of long service leave

Employees who have not received an entitlement to long service leave can make an underpayment complaint to Private Sector Labour Relations at the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Learn about the steps in making an underpayment complaint on the Making a complaint about underpayment of wages or entitlements page.

You can also contact Wageline on 1300 655 266 for information on how to make a complaint.

Go to the Western Australian Legislation website to view the Long Service Leave Act 1958 www.legislation.wa.gov.au