Notice period calculator · South Africa 2026

Notice periods in South Africa 2026

The notice an employer must give often grows with the years you have worked for them. The calculator above works out your notice period from your hire date and last day, together with severance and final pay.

The rules in brief

• Notice and severance: Notice is 1 week in the first 6 months, 2 weeks up to 1 year and 4 weeks after (it can be paid instead of worked). An employee dismissed for operational requirements (retrenchment) is owed severance pay of at least 1 week’s pay for each completed year of service. The first R550,000 of severance benefits over your lifetime is tax-free.

Notice from your employer, by years of service (Basic Conditions of Employment Act s. 37)

These are the legal minimums. A contract or collective agreement can give longer notice.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the notice period after 5 years in South Africa?
4 weeks.

Can my contract give more notice?
Yes. A contract or collective agreement can give more than the legal minimum, but not less.

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” in the calculator. Last checked: October 2026. Estimates for information, not financial advice.