Notice Period Calculator (Australia)
What this calculator does: it works out the minimum notice period your employer must give you (or you must give them, in most cases) when ending employment, based on your employment type, age, and length of service — using the National Employment Standards (NES) minimum.
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.
Official Source
Minimum notice periods are set out in Section 117 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the National Employment Standards. This calculator reflects the NES minimum — your award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract may specify a longer notice period, in which case the longer period applies.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Grace is 32, full-time, with 2 years of continuous service. Under the NES, her employer must give at least 2 weeks’ notice (increasing with service length up to 4 weeks at 5+ years, plus an extra week if she’s over 45 with at least 2 years’ service).
Example 2: Tom is 48, full-time, with 6 years of service. Because he’s over 45 with at least 2 years’ service, he gets an extra week added to the standard notice period for his length of service.
Example 3: Priya is a casual employee. Casuals generally aren’t entitled to NES minimum notice of termination in the same way as permanent employees, unless their award, agreement, or contract says otherwise — this is one of the most commonly misunderstood parts of casual employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to casual employees?
Generally no — the NES minimum notice period applies to permanent (full-time and part-time) employees. Casual employees typically aren’t entitled to notice of termination under the NES unless a specific award, agreement, or contract provides for it. See our full Notice Periods in Australia guide for the detail.
Can my employer give me pay instead of notice?
Yes, in most cases an employer can make a payment in lieu of notice instead of having you work out the notice period.
Do I have to give the same notice when I resign?
Not necessarily the NES minimum — your notice obligation when resigning is usually set by your award, agreement, or contract, which may specify a different period to what your employer owes you.
What if my contract says a longer notice period than the NES minimum?
The longer period applies. The NES sets a legal minimum, not a cap — your contract, award, or enterprise agreement can require more notice than the NES minimum, but never less.