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Garden Leave

A period where a departing employee stays on payroll but is asked not to work, usually during their notice.

Garden leave keeps a leaving employee employed — and paid — through their notice period while barred from coming to work or joining a competitor yet. The name comes from the idea that you could tend your garden instead.

Employers use it to keep someone away from sensitive information and clients before they move on, especially in senior or competitive roles. It is more common in the UK and Europe than the US.