Notice period calculator
Use this notice period calculator to work out the minimum notice an employer must give under the National Employment Standards, including the extra week for employees over 45, and the date your notice period ends. It also explains the notice you usually need to give when you resign, and when pay in lieu of notice applies.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your notice period
Enter your years of service, your age, who is ending the job and the date notice is given.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the notice period calculator
- Enter your years with the employer, counting continuous service. Decimals are fine.
- Enter your age. Employees over 45 with at least 2 years of service get an extra week when the employer ends the job.
- Choose who is ending the job: your employer, or you resigning.
- Pick the date notice is given to see the date the notice period ends.
Minimum notice periods under the NES
The National Employment Standards (NES) set the minimum notice an employer must give before ending a permanent employee's job. The notice depends on how long you have worked for the employer, plus one extra week if you are over 45 and have at least 2 years of continuous service.
| Continuous service | Minimum notice | Over 45 with 2+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year or less | 1 week | 1 week |
| More than 1 year up to 3 years | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
| More than 3 years up to 5 years | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| More than 5 years | 4 weeks | 5 weeks |
The notice must be in writing. Instead of notice, an employer can pay the full amount you would have earned during the notice period, called pay in lieu of notice. Your award, agreement or contract can give you longer notice than the NES, but never less.
Worked example
Jordan, aged 40, has worked for the same employer for 3.5 years. The employer gives notice on Monday 16 November 2026.
With more than 3 and up to 5 years of service, the NES minimum is 3 weeks. Jordan is under 45, so there is no extra week. The notice period ends on Monday 7 December 2026.
If Jordan were 50, the extra week would apply, making 4 weeks of notice ending on Monday 14 December 2026.
What is a notice period when you resign?
A notice period is the time between telling your employer you are leaving and your last day of work. The NES sets the notice an employer must give. It does not set the notice an employee must give. That comes from your modern award, enterprise agreement or contract.
Most awards ask employees to give the same notice as the NES employer scale, but without the extra week for age. For example, an employee with 2 years of service usually gives 2 weeks of notice. If you don't give the required notice, some awards let your employer keep up to one week's pay from your final pay. Check your award before you resign.
Do you have to work your notice period?
Usually yes, but your employer can pay you in lieu of notice and ask you to finish earlier. You keep accruing leave during the notice period because you are still employed.
Who doesn't get notice
The NES notice rules do not apply to:
- casual employees
- employees on a fixed-term contract that ends on its agreed date, or a contract for a specific task or season
- employees dismissed for serious misconduct
- employees still within a probation period set at the start of the job, if it is reasonable
- daily hire employees in building and construction or meat industries
Casual and labour hire workers employed on a casual basis can usually finish without notice on either side, unless their award or contract says otherwise. Workers who are made redundant get notice and may also get redundancy pay. Use our redundancy pay calculator to see both together, and our notice period guide for more detail.
Working out your last day
Notice starts the day after it is given, so 3 weeks of notice given on a Monday ends on the Monday 3 weeks later. Public holidays inside the notice period do not extend it. If you want to check how many working days you have left before you finish, use our working days calculator.
Changing jobs? A notice period is a good time to line up your next role. Register with TQN Personnel for casual, contract and permanent work.
Frequently asked questions
What is a notice period?
A notice period is the time between when an employer or employee says the job will end and the last day of work. In Australia the minimum notice an employer must give is set by the National Employment Standards and ranges from 1 to 4 weeks, plus an extra week for employees over 45 with at least 2 years of service.
How much notice do I need to give when I resign?
The notice you must give comes from your award, enterprise agreement or contract, not the National Employment Standards. Most awards use the same scale as employers by length of service, from 1 to 4 weeks, without the extra week for age. Check your award or contract.
How much notice does an employer have to give?
Employers must give at least 1 week of notice for up to 1 year of service, 2 weeks for more than 1 to 3 years, 3 weeks for more than 3 to 5 years and 4 weeks for more than 5 years. Add 1 week if the employee is over 45 and has at least 2 years of continuous service.
What is pay in lieu of notice?
Pay in lieu of notice is when your employer pays you what you would have earned during the notice period instead of having you work it. It must include your full rate of pay for the hours you would have worked, including penalty rates and allowances that would have applied.
Do casual employees get a notice period?
No. Casual employees are not entitled to notice under the National Employment Standards. Some awards or contracts set notice for casuals, so check yours. Casual workers can usually finish a job without giving notice either.
How much notice for annual leave in Australia?
The National Employment Standards don't set a notice period for annual leave requests. Your award, agreement or workplace policy may require a set amount of notice, often 2 to 4 weeks, and your employer can refuse a request only on reasonable grounds.
Related calculators
Related guides
Notice periods guideSources and assumptions
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.