Long Service Leave Queensland 2026-27
Everything long service leave queensland workers actually need: when the entitlement kicks in under the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld), how many weeks you get, what happens if you leave before the magic year, and how the pay is worked out.
Last updated: August 2026 · Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) · FY 2026–27
State LSL laws do get amended — we will email you if Queensland’s rules move. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
How Long Service Leave Works in Queensland
Long service leave is the state-law reward for staying: unlike annual or sick leave (which come from the national Fair Work system), it is governed by each state’s own Act — in this case the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld). In Queensland that means 8.6667 weeks of paid leave at 10 years, a further 4.3333 weeks at 15 years, and from 15 years onward the leave can be accessed as it accrues — no more 5-year waits.
“Continuous service” is the load-bearing phrase. Paid leave, and many kinds of approved unpaid absence, don’t break it; what counts and what merely pauses the clock is defined by the Act, and it is worth checking before assuming a career break reset you to zero. The entitlement attaches to service with one employer — though transfers of the business can preserve continuity.
Long Service Leave Queensland Entitlement 2026–27
| Continuous service | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Less than 7 years | No entitlement |
| 7 to under 10 years | Possible pro-rata payment on termination |
| 10 years | 8.6667 weeks of paid leave |
| After a further 5 years | +4.3333 weeks (13 weeks total at 15 years); 15+ can be taken as it accrues |
Source: business.qld.gov.au — LSL entitlements (fetched July 2026). Awards or agreements can only improve on these minimums, never cut below them.
Got your entitlement? Two things worth checking next
→ Your exact weeks — the calculator turns your years of service into your leave, state by state. → Moving states? — all 8 jurisdictions side by side in one comparison table.A Worked Example
At 10 years you can take 8.6667 weeks. At 15 years your total reaches 13 weeks, and any leave you accrue beyond 15 years is available as soon as it’s earned. Continuity can survive employer changes in the circumstances the Industrial Relations Act sets out (e.g. business transfers).
Leaving Before the Full Term: Pro-Rata Rules
Between 7 and 10 years, Queensland allows a pro-rata payment on termination in qualifying circumstances. From 10 years the full entitlement stands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my leave in advance in Queensland?
The entitlement crystallises at 10 years. Before 7 years there is nothing; between 7 and 10 a pro-rata payout on termination is possible in qualifying cases — check your situation against the official Queensland guidance.
Which law applies if I moved states?
Generally the state where you work, not where your employer is headquartered. If your service spans states with one employer, the applicable Act and how interstate service counts can get genuinely tricky — that is a question for the state regulator, with your service history in hand.
Is long service leave paid at my normal rate?
It is paid under the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld)’s own pay definition — broadly your ordinary pay for ordinary hours, excluding overtime. Where pay varies, the Act prescribes how to average it. It is leave, not a bonus: you take it as paid time off, or receive the balance as a payment when employment ends (where the rules above allow).
What if my employer says I have no entitlement?
Put your service history in writing (start date, any unpaid breaks) and ask them to show their calculation. If it doesn’t resolve, the state regulator behind the source below handles long service leave complaints — underpaying it is enforceable, not negotiable.
Also in Australia:
📋 Rules verified — Official sources: business.qld.gov.au — LSL entitlements
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service with no affiliation with or endorsement by any state government or regulator, and is not responsible for decisions you make based on it.
