How long service leave works in Victoria
Under the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic) you can take leave from 7 years (about 6.1 weeks by then) and keep accruing about 0.87 weeks a year. On termination after 7 years, the accrued balance is payable in full on your final day of employment.
Uniquely, Victoria has no misconduct exception: resignation, dismissal, redundancy, even dismissal for serious misconduct — the accrued leave is still paid once you have 7 years. Several non-official calculators get this wrong.
Casual and seasonal employees accrue LSL, and continuity survives gaps of up to 12 weeks between engagements, parental leave up to 104 weeks, and any length of illness or injury absence. If your hours changed in the last 2 years, Victoria uses the greatest of your 52-week, 260-week and whole-of-employment average.
The regulator is Workforce Inspectorate Victoria (renamed from Wage Inspectorate Victoria in December 2025) — 1800 287 287.
What sets Victoria apart
The Victorian Long Service Leave Act 2018 is one of the simplest schemes in the country for employees. Leave accrues week by week at 1 week for every 60 weeks of service, there is one threshold (7 years) instead of a pro-rata band, and once you cross it the balance is yours however the job ends.
The flip side is that Victoria has no early door. Leaving at 6 years 11 months pays nothing, whatever the reason, where NSW or the ACT might pay a pro-rata amount for a qualifying exit. If you are close to 7 years in Victoria, the date matters more than the reason.
Worked example, step by step
Resigned after 9 years on $1,600 a week.
- Service: 9 years of continuous employment.
- Accrual rule in Victoria: weeks of continuous service divided by 60.
- Leave accrued: 7.80 weeks.
- Payable on this exit? Yes. Nine years is 468 weeks of service. In Victoria the exit reason does not matter after 7 years, so an ordinary resignation is paid in full on the final day of employment.
- Gross payout: 7.8000 weeks × $1,600 = $12,480 before tax.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Accrued | Payable? | Gross value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resigned at 8 years on $1,700/week | 6.9 wks | Yes | $11,787 |
| Dismissed at 6 years 11 months on $1,700/week | 6.0 wks | No | — |
| Still employed at 10 years on $1,700/week | 8.7 wks | Can take leave | ≈ $14,733 if taken |
| Dismissed for serious misconduct at 8 years on $1,600/week | 6.9 wks | Yes | $11,093 |
| Made redundant at 6 years on $1,600/week | 5.2 wks | No | — |
Casuals, part-timers and changing hours
Casual and seasonal employees accrue long service leave in Victoria on the same 1-in-60 basis. Continuity is protected through gaps of up to 12 weeks between engagements (longer if agreed in advance), seasonal absences, up to 104 weeks of parental leave, and illness or injury absences of any length.
Where your ordinary hours changed in the last 104 weeks, Victoria takes the greatest of three averages: the last 52 weeks, the last 260 weeks and your whole period of employment. Non-discretionary contractual commissions and bonuses are included in ordinary pay; allowances, penalties and occasional overtime are not.
Common mistakes in Victoria
- Believing misconduct forfeits it. After 7 years it does not in Victoria, and some non-official calculators get this wrong.
- Trying to cash it out while still employed. That is prohibited in Victoria and penalties apply.
- Ignoring a recent change in hours. If your hours changed in the last 104 weeks, the greatest of three averages applies.
How the payout is taxed
Long service leave paid out when you leave is taxed separately from your wages. On a genuine redundancy, leave accrued after 17 August 1993 is withheld at a flat 32%; on a resignation or ordinary dismissal it is taxed at your marginal rate. The final pay calculator applies the right treatment, and the redundancy tax guide explains the rules.
Frequently asked questions
How does the LSL calculator work for VIC?
Victorian LSL is total weeks of continuous employment divided by 60, times your ordinary weekly pay. This lsl calculator vic applies that formula, the 7-year threshold, and the averaging rules for changed hours.
Can I cash out long service leave in Victoria?
No — cashing out while still employed is prohibited (penalties apply). It is paid out only when employment ends, or taken as leave while employed.
Do I lose long service leave if I am sacked in Victoria?
No. After 7 years the accrued entitlement is payable on termination for any reason under the 2018 Act — including dismissal for misconduct.
Do casuals get long service leave in Victoria?
Yes. Casual and seasonal employees accrue it, and breaks of up to 12 weeks between engagements (longer if agreed in advance) do not reset the clock.
When must my employer pay Victorian LSL after I leave?
In full on your final day of employment, not on a later pay run. If it is missing from your final pay, contact Workforce Inspectorate Victoria on 1800 287 287.
Does parental leave break my Victorian service?
No. Up to 104 weeks of parental leave preserves continuity, and illness or injury absences of any length do too.
Verify with the official authority
Victoria long service leave is governed by the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic). The official authority is Workforce Inspectorate Victoria (1800 287 287) — verify your specific situation there before acting, especially where continuity (breaks, business sales, parental leave) is in play.
Other states and tools
- New South Wales LSL calculator
- Queensland LSL calculator
- Western Australia LSL calculator
- South Australia LSL calculator
- Tasmania LSL calculator
- Australian Capital Territory LSL calculator
- Northern Territory LSL calculator
- Pro-rata rules in every state
- Long service leave for casuals — continuity rules compared
- Final pay calculator — combine LSL with notice and leave
Sources
Figures on this page come from the following primary sources. The date is when we last checked the page against the source.
- Long service leave (Victoria) (Victorian Government), checked 7 August 2026.
- Comprehensive guide to the Long Service Leave Act 2018: calculating long service leave (Victorian Government), checked 7 August 2026.
Rules last verified 2026-08-07. Estimates only. Independent guide — not a government service, and not financial or legal advice.