Redundancy pay calculator (National Employment Standards)
After 5 years with an employer of 15 or more people, the NES minimum redundancy pay is 10 weeks at your base rate: $15,000 on $1,500 a week, plus 3 weeks' notice or pay in lieu ($4,500).
Enter your service and base pay to see your minimum.
How it's worked out
Redundancy pay = weeks from the table × your weekly base pay. If the employer has fewer than 15 employees, or you have under 12 months' service, the NES amount is nil. Notice is worked out separately from section 117.
| Continuous service | Redundancy pay |
|---|---|
| 1 to under 2 years | 4 weeks |
| 2 to under 3 years | 6 weeks |
| 3 to under 4 years | 7 weeks |
| 4 to under 5 years | 8 weeks |
| 5 to under 6 years | 10 weeks |
| 6 to under 7 years | 11 weeks |
| 7 to under 8 years | 13 weeks |
| 8 to under 9 years | 14 weeks |
| 9 to under 10 years | 16 weeks |
| 10 years or more | 12 weeks |
Worked example: 5 years at $1,500 a week
Five completed years with a business of 50 employees, aged under 45, $1,500 a week base pay:
| Result | Amount |
|---|---|
| NES redundancy pay | $15,000.00 |
| Redundancy weeks | 10 |
| Notice (or pay in lieu) | 3 weeks · $4,500.00 |
How to use the Redundancy Pay Calculator
- Enter your completed years and months of continuous service.
- Enter your weekly base pay for ordinary hours.
- Enter how many people the business employs and whether you are over 45.
Key figures 2026–27
The statutory rates and thresholds this calculator uses, where each comes from, and when we last checked it.
| Figure | Value | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| NES redundancy pay | 4 to 16 weeks by years of service; 12 weeks from 10 years; nil under 1 year or with fewer than 15 employees | Fair Work Act 2009 (compilation C2026C00355, 7 July 2026): ss. 23, 87, 90, 117, 119, 121Checked 2026-11-05 |
| Minimum notice | 1 week (up to 1 year), 2 (up to 3), 3 (up to 5), 4 (over 5); +1 week if over 45 with 2+ years | Fair Work Act 2009 (compilation C2026C00355, 7 July 2026): ss. 23, 87, 90, 117, 119, 121Checked 2026-11-05 |
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of redundancy pay do I get?
Under the NES: 4 weeks after 1 year, 6 after 2, 7 after 3, 8 after 4, 10 after 5, 11 after 6, 13 after 7, 14 after 8, 16 after 9, and 12 weeks from 10 years (long service leave usually takes over then).
Who doesn't get NES redundancy pay?
Employees with less than 12 months' continuous service, employees of small business employers (fewer than 15 employees, counting regular casuals), casuals, and some others such as those on fixed-term contracts that simply end.
What pay rate is used?
Your base rate for ordinary hours. Overtime, penalty rates, loadings, allowances and bonuses are left out.
Is notice paid as well?
Yes. Redundancy pay is separate from notice. Your employer must give notice (1 to 4 weeks, plus a week if you are over 45 with 2 years' service) or pay in lieu, and pay out unused annual leave.
Is redundancy pay taxed?
A genuine redundancy payment is tax-free up to a limit set by the ATO each year; the rest is taxed as an employment termination payment. Check the ATO's redundancy pages for the current limit.
Sources
- Fair Work Act 2009 (compilation C2026C00355, 7 July 2026): ss. 23, 87, 90, 117, 119, 121 (Federal Register of Legislation)
- Redundancy pay (Fair Work Ombudsman)
Estimates, not tax or legal advice. Results come from the published rules for the cases this calculator covers in 2026–27; your own circumstances can change them. Check with the official source: Fair Work Notice and Redundancy Calculator.
Last checked 2026-11-05 by the TakeHomeWorld editors · How we calculate and check rates · Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is stored.