What you get if you leave after 5 years
The payout depends on why the job ends. These are the weeks paid at exactly 5 years under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT), with the value before tax at three weekly pay rates.
| If you | Leave paid out | At $1,200 a week | At $1,800 a week | At $2,400 a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resign | Nothing | - | - | - |
| Employer ends the job | 4.33 weeks | $5,196 | $7,794 | $10,392 |
| Made redundant | 4.33 weeks | $5,196 | $7,794 | $10,392 |
| Resign because of illness or a pressing need | 4.33 weeks | $5,196 | $7,794 | $10,392 |
| Retire | 4.33 weeks | $5,196 | $7,794 | $10,392 |
| Dismissed for serious misconduct | Nothing | - | - | - |
How it is worked out
If you resign
Between 5 and 7 years an ordinary resignation in the ACT gets nothing.
If you are made redundant
Between 5 and 7 years the ACT pays a proportion if you retire at or after retirement age, your employer ends the job (not for serious misconduct), you are made redundant, or you leave because of illness or a pressing domestic need, counting completed years and months: 5 years × 0.8667 = 4.33 weeks.
While you are still employed
In the ACT you can take long service leave after 7 years (6.07 weeks).
Your next milestone is 7 years, when 6.07 weeks in total become available.
What a few extra months change
After 7 years only completed years add to ACT leave, so part years do not count.
| Situation | 5 years | 5 years 6 months |
|---|---|---|
| Still employed (can take) | 0 weeks | 0 weeks |
| Resign | 0 weeks | 0 weeks |
| Made redundant | 4.33 weeks | 4.77 weeks |
Your own dates, pay and leave already taken change the result. Use the ACT calculator for your exact figure, and check the ACT rules on what counts as service.
Common questions
How much long service leave do I get after 5 years in the ACT?
You cannot take leave yet. In the ACT you can take long service leave after 7 years (6.07 weeks).
Is long service leave paid out if I resign after 5 years in ACT?
No. Between 5 and 7 years an ordinary resignation in the ACT gets nothing.
What if I am made redundant after 5 years in ACT?
You are paid 4.33 weeks. Between 5 and 7 years the ACT pays a proportion if you retire at or after retirement age, your employer ends the job (not for serious misconduct), you are made redundant, or you leave because of illness or a pressing domestic need, counting completed years and months: 5 years × 0.8667 = 4.33 weeks.
Do part years count after 5 years in ACT?
After 7 years only completed years add to ACT leave, so part years do not count.
Other milestones
Figures calculated with this site's ACT rules, last reviewed 3 November 2026. An award or agreement can give you more.