garden leave
/ˈɡɑːr.dən liːv/
UncommonA period where an employee is paid but not required or allowed to work, typically after resignation or during notice.
In the UK, where the term originated, it is standard contractual practice. In the US it is less common but used at senior levels and in finance. Workers often describe it as a strange limbo: technically still employed but with no access and nothing to do.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | resigned last week. they put me on garden leave for 60 days. getting paid to read books. | The person is on paid leave with nothing required of them for two months. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | check your contract for a garden leave clause before you quit. some companies will pay you to do nothing for months. | Advising workers to look for this provision before planning their departure. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | my access got cut on day one of garden leave. technically still employed but i can't even check email. | The paid period feels less like employment and more like a holding pattern with a salary. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | they wanted me gone but couldn't break the contract. ended up on garden leave for three months. worked out. | The situation resolved in the person's financial favor because the contract protected them. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone is being paid through their notice period but kept away from the office and systems.
- A senior hire leaves and the company pays them out rather than letting them work the notice period.
- Joking about getting paid to not work after leaving a job.
Do not use it when
- Someone uses up their PTO before their last day.
- Someone is on unpaid leave or a suspension.
Variations and related forms
Garden leave vs non-compete
garden leave
Garden leave pays you to stay away from work during a notice period.
non-compete
A non-compete restricts where you can work after you leave, often without paying you.
Origin and context
British term, origin attributed to the idea that an employee on leave would have nothing better to do than tend their garden. Common in UK employment contracts since the 1980s, especially in financial services.
- First seen
- 1980s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/garden-leave