Long service leave is a paid leave entitlement for employees who have long term continuous employment with the same employer.  

Many private sector employees in Western Australia are covered by the Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA).

Under the Long Service Leave Act, an employee may be eligible for long service leave when they leave a job after 7 years’ continuous employment, and may be entitled to take long service leave after 10 years’ continuous employment.

This section of the Wageline website has information on the provisions of the Long Service Leave Act and answers to frequently asked questions about long service leave.

• Who is covered (and not covered) by the Long Service Leave Act?

• When is an employee eligible for long service leave?

• How much long service leave does an employee get?

• Does long service leave get paid out when an employee leaves a job?

• How do periods of leave and other absences from work impact accrual of long service leave?

• Do casual and seasonal employees get long service leave?

• What are the rules about taking long service leave?

• What do employees get paid for long service leave?

• What is meant by 'the same employer'?

• What happens when business ownership changes?

• Can an employee cash out their long service leave?

• How do I make a complaint about unpaid long service leave?

• What are the record keeping requirements for long service leave?

• What are the potential penalties for breaching the Long Service Leave Act?

The WA long service leave calculator can provide an estimate of an employee’s long service leave entitlement when employment ceases as a result of resignation, dismissal, or redundancy.

A copy of the Long Service Leave Act is available at www.legislation.wa.gov.au