In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New South Wales has passed legislation allowing for more flexible use of long service leave. Previously, the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW):
- allowed a worker to access not less than one month of long service leave in advance, if the worker had at least one month of long service leave accrued
- required the employer to give a worker at least one month’s notice to take long service leave.
The amendments to the Act allow:
- long service leave to be taken with less than one month’s notice if agreed by the employer and worker
- long service leave to be taken in blocks of less than one month.
The amendments commenced on 25 March 2020 and will be in place for a period of six months, unless extended.