"Gardening leave" is a term that comes up when senior executives move between roles. Here is what it means, why it exists, and how it affects executive transitions.
What it means
Gardening leave refers to a period, typically during an executive's notice period, when they remain employed and paid by the business but are required to stay away from work — not coming into the office, not doing their job, and often kept from clients, colleagues, and sensitive information. The colourful name reflects the idea of the person being at home (tending the garden) rather than working. It is common for senior employees, particularly when they are leaving for a competitor.
Why it exists
Gardening leave protects the business. A senior executive who has resigned, especially to join a competitor, has access to sensitive information, relationships, and momentum that could be damaging if they continued working right up to departure. Keeping them away during the notice period — while still bound by their employment and its obligations — limits this risk, and lets any sensitive information they hold age and lose value before they join a competitor. It is a protective measure, not a punishment.
How it affects transitions
For a departing executive, gardening leave means a period away from work before they can start their next role, since they remain employed and bound by their current contract during it. This affects the timing of executive moves — a senior leader may be unavailable to a new employer for the length of their notice and any gardening leave. Understanding these terms is part of managing senior transitions and timelines on both sides.
A normal feature of senior employment
Gardening leave is a standard feature of senior contracts, especially in some sectors and markets, and is closely related to notice periods and post-termination restrictions. The specifics — length, terms, and enforceability — vary by contract and jurisdiction, and are matters for legal advice. For businesses and executives alike, understanding these provisions is part of handling senior appointments and departures well.
Managing a senior transition?
We help both sides manage executive moves, timelines, and terms so appointments start well.
Explore Executive Search →Frequently asked questions
What is gardening leave?
A period during which a departing employee — usually senior — remains employed and paid but is kept away from work, the office, and often clients and information, until their employment formally ends. It's common when an executive is leaving, especially for a competitor.
Why do companies use gardening leave?
To protect the business — keeping a departing senior executive (who has sensitive information and relationships) away from work during their notice period limits the risk of them taking value to a competitor, and lets sensitive information age before they join one.
Related: Negotiating an Executive Offer · Counteroffers: Why They Usually Fail · What to Expect as a Candidate in an Executive Search
