By SESAY · Updated 3 October 2026 · Australian context
Scenario: an ordinary resignation
Sam resigns and works the required notice. Assume the confirmed final timesheet contains 38 unpaid ordinary hours at $40. The reconciled annual leave balance is 76 hours. Sam’s applicable instrument provides 17.5% loading on that leave, with no alternative penalty comparison or other relevant payment. There is no payable long service leave, redundancy, payment in lieu of notice or other amount in this fictional case.
| Component | Calculation | Gross amount |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding wages | 38 × $40 | $1,520.00 |
| Annual leave | 76 × $40 | $3,040.00 |
| Applicable leave loading | $3,040 × 17.5% | $532.00 |
| Gross final pay | $1,520 + $3,040 + $532 | $5,092.00 |
Why the annual leave check matters
Unused annual leave must reflect what the employee would receive if they took it, including applicable leave loading. A flat percentage is not a universal rule: the instrument may require a different comparison or additional payments.
Turn the example into a review process
- Match the termination date and reason to the authorised HR instruction.
- Confirm all timesheets, adjustments and leave transactions are included.
- Reconcile the opening leave balance, accrual and leave taken through the final date.
- Assess notice, long service leave, redundancy and contractual amounts separately.
- Confirm withholding, reporting and super treatment for each component.
- Check the payment deadline and obtain final approval.
Most awards require final pay within seven days, but check the applicable instrument. Payment in lieu of notice must be made on or before termination. Do not treat the ordinary pay-cycle date as an automatic deadline for every exit.
What this example does not calculate
The $5,092 total is not the amount Sam receives in their bank account. Tax withholding and any permitted deductions need separate assessment. The estimator below does not classify employment termination payments or decide eligibility.
Build a gross final-pay estimate →
How SESAY can help
SESAY can document the applicable rules, reconcile source data, prepare calculation workpapers and coordinate a second review within an agreed scope. Unresolved entitlement questions are escalated before your authorised approver releases payroll.
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General educational information, not individual legal or tax advice. Examples are fictional and gross amounts only. Confirm the instrument, facts and current regulator guidance before processing. Read our editorial policy.