Long Service Leave and Continuity of Service

In some circumstances, absences from work should not break continuity of service. Wagemaster release V7.2.0.8154 includes a new option in Long Service Leave Entitlement to stop periods of the default leave type, Leave Without Pay, from breaking the continuity of service for Long Service Leave’s entitlement period.

With the Leave Without Pay doesn’t break the continuity of service for this leaves entitlement period selected, periods of Leave Without Pay (LWOP) taken will not extend the entitlement period for Long Service Leave (LSL).

For example, currently, without this option selected, an employee’s period of employment has reached 7 Years, but with a period of 92 days of LWOP taken, the LSL entitlement is not showing. The period of LWOP has pushed the entitlement period out by the number of LWOP days taken and the employee will only be entitled to LSL after 7 year and 92 days.

After selecting the Leave Without Pay doesn’t break the continuity of service for this leaves entitlement period, once the employee reaches 7 Years of employment, the LSL is now an entitlement.

Before making any changes to your Award leave setup, please run leave entitlement and liability reports.

Note: Leave Without Pay is as per the default setting within Employee, not leave setup within Awards.

Note: Selecting this new option will not have an impact on the overall Long Service Leave accrual, only the entitlement period.

Please consider reviewing the Fair Work Act 2009 in conjunction with relevant State Long Service Leave laws before making a change in Wagemaster.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017C00323

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights/long-service-leave/entitlements 

https://www.business.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1748860/Comprehensive-Guide-to-the-Victoria-Long-Service-Leave-Act-2018.pdf