Frequently asked questions
How much redundancy pay do I get in Australia?
The National Employment Standards scale pays base-rate weeks by length of service — 4 weeks (1–2 yrs) rising to 16 weeks (9–10 yrs), then dropping to 12 weeks at 10+ years. Employees with under 1 year's service, and most small businesses with fewer than 15 staff, are exempt.
Why does redundancy pay drop after 10 years of service?
The NES scale is 16 weeks at 9–10 years but 12 weeks at 10+ years. It is a deliberate feature of the standard: once you reach 10 years, long service leave becomes payable, so the redundancy entitlement steps back down.
When am I entitled to long service leave in Australia?
Long service leave is set by each state and territory. In NSW and Victoria roughly 8.67 weeks (about 2 months) is payable at 10 years, with pro-rata after 7 years in Victoria, or on a qualifying termination after 5 years in NSW.
Is unused annual leave paid out when I leave?
Yes. Under the NES you accrue 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year, and any unused balance must be paid out on termination at your base rate of pay (plus leave loading where it applied).