Long service leave · the Northern Territory

Long service leave in NT

Work out how much long service leave you've built up in the Northern Territory under the Long Service Leave Act 1981, when you can take it, and whether it's paid out if you leave.

Leave you've built up

0 weeks

Continuous service0 yrs

In hours0 h

Worth at current pay$0

Can you take it now?	–
Paid out if you leave now?	–
Paid out if you leave now, in dollars	–

How this is worked out

Rules in every state and territory

Where	Full entitlement	Can take from	Paid out on leaving

Casual and part-time employees can be entitled too, if their employment was continuous. Some industries have portable schemes or award rules instead, such as building and construction, and public sector employees are usually covered by their own agreements.
Leave is paid at your ordinary pay, without overtime. If your hours or pay have varied, an average over several years may apply, so check with your employer or the state regulator.
Whether a reason for leaving qualifies (such as a "pressing necessity") depends on the facts. If you're unsure, ask your state's long service leave regulator.

Long service leave rules in the Northern Territory

Long service leave in the Northern Territory is set by the Long Service Leave Act 1981. Most employees covered by it, including part-time and many casual employees with continuous service, build it up.

13 weeks after 10 years, building up at 1.3 weeks for each completed year. Part years don’t count.
Between 7 and 10 years, it is paid out only if you reach retirement age, are dismissed for a reason other than serious misconduct (such as redundancy), or resign because illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity stops you working. After 10 years, resigning pays out each completed year.

How much leave at each length of service

Full-time employee on $1,650 a week ordinary pay. "Paid out" assumes you leave at that point; redundancy is treated as your employer ending your employment for a reason other than misconduct.

Continuous service	Leave accrued	Worth at $1,650/week	Can take it?	Paid out if you resign?	Paid out if made redundant?
3 years	3.90 weeks	$6,435	No	No	No
5 years	6.50 weeks	$10,725	No	No	No
7 years	9.10 weeks	$15,015	No	No	Yes
10 years	13.00 weeks	$21,450	Yes	Yes	Yes
12 years	15.60 weeks	$25,740	Yes	Yes	Yes
15 years	19.50 weeks	$32,175	Yes	Yes	Yes
20 years	26.00 weeks	$42,900	Yes	Yes	Yes

Long service leave elsewhere: NSW · Victoria · QLD · WA · SA · Tasmania · ACT. Some industries, such as construction, cleaning and community services, have portable long service schemes with different rules.

Common questions

How much long service leave do I get in NT?

13 weeks after 10 years. It builds up at about 1.30 weeks for each year of continuous service with the same employer.

When can I take long service leave in NT?

Once you've completed 10 years of continuous service, when you'll have about 13.00 weeks. Your employer has to agree on when you take it, or give you notice of when it's to be taken.

Is long service leave paid out if I resign in NT?

Only once you've completed 10 years. Between 7 and 10 years, pro rata leave is paid out only for qualifying reasons, such as your employer ending your employment (including redundancy) or leaving because of illness, incapacity or a pressing necessity.

How is long service leave paid in NT?

At your ordinary pay rate for your ordinary hours when you take the leave, usually without overtime or penalty rates. If your hours have changed, some states average them over a period.

Does long service leave count for part-time and casual employees?

Generally yes, if your employment has been continuous. Part-time employees get the same number of weeks, paid at their ordinary part-time hours. Check the details for your situation with your state's long service leave regulator.

Source: Long Service Leave Act 1981 (the Northern Territory). General information, not legal advice.