Your business has legal obligations to pay long service leave to your employees! In Queensland employees
are generally entitled to long service leave after 10 years of continuous services with your business.
There are exceptions where your business is linked (roped-in) to an Award or Enterprise Bargaining Agreement
and where those agreements provide a greater entitlement.
Did you know that your long term casual employees are entitled to proportionate long service leave in
Queensland?
Record Keeping
Employing people in your business comes with many responsibilities. You must record and retain detailed
employee records such as rates of pay, hours worked and employment status. In the event of a dispute you
may be penalised for failing to keep records.
Full Time Employees
Your full time employees are entitled to 8.6667 weeks paid long service leave after 10 years of continuous
service with your business. There are some rules on what is considered continuous service with you.
Part Time Employees
Your part time employees are entitled to paid proportionate long service leave after 10 years of continuous
service with your business. A part time employee's entitlement to long service leave is calculated on actual
hours worked.
Short Term Casual Employees
Short term casual employees are not entitled to paid long service leave.
Long Term Casuals
The Queensland Industrial Relations Act 1999 entitles your long term casual employees (defined as those
who have at least 1 year’s casual employment with you) to proportionate paid long service leave.
It is imperative that you retain detailed and accurate records of all work performed by your long term
casual employees as their entitlement to long service leave is calculated by number of hours worked over
the 10 years of casual employment.
An example for a long term casual employee who worked 15,600 hours
An employee who worked 15,600 ordinary working hours over a 10-year period and is being paid an hourly
rate of $12 has an entitlement calculated as:
15,600 X 8.6667 X $12 = $3,120.01
10 52
Remember, keep records and documentation, and ensure your peace of mind.
Further Information
Philip Lye is Director of Biz Momentum Pty Ltd. He works with small to medium businesses to help
them cut through the maze of people matters. Clients get specific actionable strategies to protect their
business interests. For more information on Philip, visit www.biz-momentum.com and
subscribe to his free monthly e-zine.
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