Resignation Letter Garden Leave Request

When and how to use this letter

Garden leave is a period where you remain employed and paid but are asked not to attend work, contact clients, or start a new job. It exists mainly to protect the employer's confidential information, and it is common in sales, finance, and senior roles. Note that you usually cannot demand it - the employer decides whether to place you on garden leave.

If garden leave is granted, take the rules seriously. A non-obvious tip: clarify in writing exactly what is permitted during the leave. Many garden leave clauses forbid you from contacting colleagues or clients, and breaching them can void your remaining pay or trigger legal action. Equally, confirm that your salary, benefits, and bonuses continue to accrue as normal during the period.

Use the time productively but carefully. You cannot start work elsewhere, but you can study, rest, and prepare for your next role. Do not assume garden leave pauses your non-compete clock - in many contracts it runs alongside it, so check the dates.

If your employer declines garden leave, simply serve your notice normally and remain discreet with sensitive information. Never discuss confidential details of your old employer with your new one, regardless of whether garden leave applied. Keep the request polite and conditional, as in this template, so a refusal causes no awkwardness.

Frequently asked questions

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