Notice Period Calculator (Australia)
How This Calculator Works
Under Section 117 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the National Employment Standards (NES), an employer must give a minimum amount of written notice (or payment in lieu of notice) before ending a non-casual employee’s employment. The minimum period depends on how long you have continuously worked for that employer:
- Less than 1 year: 1 week
- 1 year to less than 3 years: 2 weeks
- 3 years to less than 5 years: 3 weeks
- 5 years or more: 4 weeks
Employees aged 45 or over who have completed at least 2 years of continuous service receive an additional 1 week on top of the standard scale, making 5 weeks the maximum under the NES.
Casual employees are generally not entitled to notice of termination under the NES. This calculator shows the legal minimum only, your employment contract, modern award, or enterprise agreement may specify a longer notice period, but can never specify less than the NES minimum. This calculator covers notice an employer must give when ending your employment, not the notice you must give when resigning, which is usually set out in your contract or award instead.