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JL JobLabs

UK Recruitment Glossary

Garden Leave

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

Common in senior or commercially sensitive roles where the employer doesn't want you in the office passing information to a competitor. You're still employed, still paid, still bound by confidentiality and non-competes. You usually can't start a new role until garden leave ends. Tip: read your contract before resigning — garden leave clauses are easy to miss.

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