Leave Entitlement Calculator
NES annual and personal leave: Fair Work Leave Calculator. Long service leave is state law.
About This Tool
Australian employees are entitled to various types of leave under the National Employment Standards (NES), which set out the minimum leave entitlements for all employees covered by the national workplace relations system. Leave entitlements accrue from the start of employment and, for most types, accumulate year over year if unused. The NES provides a safety net that cannot be reduced by awards or agreements.
Why This Matters for Australian Businesses
Incorrect leave calculations are one of the most common payroll compliance issues in Australia. Underpaying leave entitlements — whether through incorrect accrual rates, failing to account for shift worker status, or miscalculating pro-rata entitlements for part-time employees — can result in Fair Work penalties and back-payment obligations. Long service leave is particularly complex because qualifying periods and entitlements vary by state and territory.
Key Rules & Thresholds
- Full-time employees receive 4 weeks annual leave per year (5 weeks for shift workers)
- Personal/carer's leave is 10 days per year for full-time employees, pro-rata for part-time
- Casual employees receive a 25% loading in lieu of paid annual and personal leave
- Long service leave qualifying periods: 7 years in VIC and ACT, 10 years in most other states
- South Australia and Northern Territory provide 13 weeks of long service leave after 10 years — the most generous
- Unused annual leave and long service leave must be paid out on termination of employment
Official Resources
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Leave Calculator
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Leave
- Fair Work Ombudsman — National Employment Standards