Your entitlement builds up from your first week at one week for every 60 weeks of continuous employment (s 6). You can only use it, or be paid it, once you reach seven years.
Under seven years: nothing is payable, for any reason. In the Victorian guide, Marcus's employment ended at six years and 11 months, with pay in lieu of notice, and he was not entitled to any long service leave. Being dismissed, made redundant or leaving because of illness does not change this.
From seven years: your full accrued entitlement is paid when your employment ends, whatever the reason, including resignation and serious misconduct (s 9). Your employer must pay you on the day your employment ends.
To work it out, count your weeks of continuous employment, divide by 60 and take off any long service leave you have already taken (s 6). Jacqui resigns after seven years and six months. That is 364 weeks plus 26 weeks, or 390 weeks, so she is paid 6.5 weeks.
Victorian government pages describe seven years as about 6.1 weeks. Counting seven years as 364 weeks gives 6.07 weeks. A calculation from your actual dates, which is how the Business Victoria calculator works, can give slightly more because it counts every day.
Make sure every week counts. Unpaid leave beyond 52 weeks, stand downs and industrial dispute time are not added to your service (s 14), which can leave you short of seven years.
Common questions
Is there pro rata long service leave in Victoria?
Not in the sense of a separate window. From seven years you are paid your full accrued entitlement for any reason. Before seven years nothing is payable (s 9).
I was made redundant at six and a half years in Victoria. Do I get long service leave?
No. Victoria pays nothing before seven years of continuous employment, whatever the reason the job ends.
How many weeks do I get at seven years in Victoria?
364 weeks divided by 60, which is 6.07 weeks. Victorian government pages say about 6.1 weeks.
Does misconduct affect my payout in Victoria?
No. After seven years your full accrued entitlement is paid for any reason, including dismissal for serious misconduct (s 9).
Official sources
- Long Service Leave Act 2018Victorian Chief Parliamentary Counsel
- Long Service Leave Act 2018, Authorised Version 006 (PDF)Victorian Chief Parliamentary Counsel
- Victoria's long service leave lawsWorkforce Inspectorate Victoria
Rules last reviewed 3 November 2026.