Fact check: What is the typical duration of garden leave in UK employment contracts?

1. Summary of the results

The typical duration of garden leave in UK employment contracts varies significantly based on seniority and industry, but follows clear patterns:

• For most employees, garden leave typically ranges from 30-90 days ^[1]
• The maximum practical duration is generally 6 months, even though contractual notice periods can be up to 12 months for senior roles ^[2]
• The duration typically mirrors the employee's contractual notice period ^[3]
• Specific industries like finance, tech, and law tend to have longer garden leave periods ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial factors affect garden leave duration that weren't addressed in the original question:

• Legal Enforcement Limits: Courts actively regulate garden leave durations:
• They are unlikely to enforce periods beyond 6 months ^[3]
• Courts may intervene if the duration could harm future career prospects ^[2]
• Seniority Correlation: More senior roles typically have longer notice periods and consequently longer garden leave periods ^{[2] [3]}
• Business Interest Requirement: The length must be reasonable and justified by legitimate business interests ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question's simplicity could lead to misconceptions:

• It doesn't acknowledge that there's no single "typical" duration - the range varies significantly based on multiple factors
• It might suggest garden leave duration is solely an employer's choice, when in reality:
• Courts actively regulate and can reduce excessive periods ^[3]
• The duration must balance employer interests with employee rights ^[3]
• Industry standards play a significant role in determining appropriate durations ^[1]