Under seven years: nothing is payable, even on redundancy.
Seven to ten years: you are paid pro rata based on 8.67 weeks for ten years, counting your whole period of employment including part years (s 8(3)).
Ten years or more: you are paid any untaken blocks plus pro rata for each completed year since your last block (s 8(2)(c)). In a WA government example, Lee is made redundant after 12 years and is paid 8.67 + 1.73 = 10.4 weeks.
Unpaid leave does not count. In another WA government example, Ezra's job ended after ten years, but he had taken 12 months of unpaid parental leave, so he had nine years of service. That is still within the pro rata window, so he was paid. His hours were 38 a week for four years and 30 a week for five, so his normal weekly hours came to 33.56, with the unpaid period left out.
You are treated as starting your leave on the day your employment ends, and the full amount must be paid that day (s 9(2), s 9(2A)).
If your employer ends your employment and re-employs you within two months, or within six months after a slackness of trade termination, your employment is continuous (s 6(4)). If the business is transferred and the new employer hires you within three months to do the same work, your service carries over to the new employer (s 7E, s 7H).
Common questions
Is long service leave paid on redundancy in WA?
Yes, if you have at least seven years of continuous employment. Between seven and ten years you get pro rata, and after ten years your untaken blocks plus completed years (s 8).
I was made redundant after six years in WA. Do I get anything?
No long service leave is payable before seven years of continuous employment.
If I am rehired after a slackness of trade redundancy, do I keep my service?
Yes, if you are re-employed within six months (s 6(4)(b)). The gap itself is not counted (s 6A(2)(c)).
Official sources
- Long Service Leave Act 1958WA Parliamentary Counsel's Office
- Guide to the Western Australian Long Service Leave ActDLGIRS Private Sector Labour Relations
- WA long service leave calculatorDLGIRS Private Sector Labour Relations
Rules last reviewed 3 November 2026.