Garden Leave Calculator UK 2026
Calculate your garden leave pay, entitlement, and financial impact instantly with our comprehensive UK calculator. Get detailed breakdowns of salary, holiday accrual, pension contributions, and notice period planning to understand your exact position during garden leave or notice periods.
Key Garden Leave Facts 2026
Who Can Use This Calculator?
Employees on Garden Leave
Calculate your exact pay, holiday entitlement, and financial position during your garden leave period to plan your finances effectively.
HR Professionals
Determine accurate garden leave costs, payroll obligations, and holiday accrual for departing employees.
Employers & Managers
Understand the full financial commitment of placing employees on garden leave including salary, pension, and statutory benefits.
Job Changers
Plan your transition between roles by understanding how garden leave affects your income, notice period, and start date timing.
Calculate Your Garden Leave
How the Garden Leave Calculator Works
Enter Salary Details
Input your annual gross salary, notice period, and garden leave duration. The calculator handles both weeks and months for flexible planning.
Add Pension & Benefits
Include your pension contribution percentages and holiday entitlement. These continue during garden leave and affect your total compensation.
Calculate Instantly
Our calculator processes your data using official UK employment law formulas to determine pay, holiday accrual, and pension contributions.
Review Breakdown
Get comprehensive results showing total pay, holiday days accrued, pension values, and a detailed month-by-month breakdown of your garden leave.
Understanding Garden Leave in the UK
Garden leave is a workplace arrangement where an employee who has resigned or been dismissed continues to receive full pay and benefits but is required to stay away from the workplace during their notice period. This practice protects employers from potential risks when senior staff leave, particularly those with access to sensitive information, client relationships, or competitive knowledge. The term originates from the idea that employees have time to tend their gardens while still being paid.
During garden leave, you remain contractually employed and must not work for another employer, contact clients or colleagues, or access company systems. However, you retain all contractual benefits including salary, pension contributions, holiday accrual, and statutory sick pay entitlement. This makes garden leave distinctly different from unpaid leave or standard notice periods where you continue working.
What You Receive During Garden Leave
Your financial position during garden leave matches your normal employment terms. You receive 100% of your base salary, all pension contributions continue at the same rates, and you accrue holiday entitlement at 12.07% (equivalent to 5.6 weeks annually for full-time employees). Statutory benefits like sick pay and maternity pay also continue if needed. However, performance-related bonuses and commission may cease depending on your contract terms, as these typically require active employment.
Duration and Legal Limits
Garden leave typically lasts for the duration of your contractual notice period, which varies based on seniority and contract terms. While some senior executive contracts specify notice periods of 6 to 12 months, UK courts rarely enforce garden leave beyond 6 months as longer periods may be deemed unreasonable restraint of trade. The duration must be proportionate to protecting the employer's legitimate business interests.
Contractual Requirements
Garden leave is only enforceable if explicitly stated in your employment contract through a garden leave clause. This clause must specify the employer's right to impose garden leave, the maximum duration, and any restrictions on your activities during this period. Without such a clause, an employer cannot force you to take garden leave, though you may agree to it voluntarily. The clause should be clearly worded to avoid ambiguity that could lead to disputes.
💡 Important Note
If you're placed on garden leave, review your employment contract carefully to understand your specific terms. While you cannot work elsewhere during this period, you continue accruing holiday and pension benefits. Any unused holiday must be paid out when your employment officially ends. Consider using a salary negotiation calculator when planning your next role to account for any gap between garden leave ending and starting new employment.
Holiday Accrual Calculation
During garden leave, you continue to accrue statutory holiday at the rate of 12.07% of time worked. For a full-time employee working 5 days per week, this equates to 5.6 weeks (28 days) annually. The calculation is: (Annual Holiday Entitlement ÷ 365) × Number of Days on Garden Leave. For example, 3 months of garden leave would accrue approximately 7 days of holiday (28 ÷ 365 × 91 days). Any unused holiday at the end of your employment must be paid out at your normal daily rate.
Comparison with Notice Periods
| Aspect | Garden Leave | Working Notice Period |
|---|---|---|
| Work Duties | No work required - stay away from workplace | Continue regular duties until last day |
| Salary & Benefits | Full pay and all contractual benefits maintained | Full pay and all contractual benefits maintained |
| Contact with Colleagues | Prohibited - no client or colleague contact | Normal business interactions continue |
| Other Employment | Cannot work elsewhere - still employed | Cannot work elsewhere until notice ends |
| Holiday Accrual | Continues at 12.07% rate | Continues at 12.07% rate |
| Pension Contributions | Both employee and employer continue | Both employee and employer continue |
Real Garden Leave Examples
Senior Manager - 3 Month Garden Leave
Person: Sarah, Sales Director
Situation: Resigned to join competitor, placed on full garden leave
Annual Salary: £65,000
Garden Leave: 3 months
Pension (8% total): £1,300
Total Received: £17,550
Holiday Accrued: 7 days
Sarah received her full quarterly salary of £16,250 plus continued pension contributions. She accrued 7 additional holiday days which were paid out when employment ended. However, her quarterly bonus of £4,000 was not paid as her contract specified bonuses require active employment.
IT Contractor - 6 Week Garden Leave
Person: James, Software Developer
Situation: Fixed-term contract ending, partial garden leave
Annual Salary: £42,000
Garden Leave: 6 weeks
Pension (8% total): £387
Total Received: £5,231
Holiday Accrued: 3.2 days
James worked 2 weeks of his 8-week notice then spent 6 weeks on garden leave. He received £4,846 in salary plus £387 in pension contributions during garden leave. The 3.2 days of accrued holiday were added to his unused entitlement and paid as part of his final settlement alongside statutory payments.
Executive - 4 Month Garden Leave
Person: Michael, Finance Director
Situation: Mutual agreement to leave, extended garden leave
Annual Salary: £95,000
Garden Leave: 4 months
Pension (12% total): £3,800
Total Received: £35,467
Holiday Accrued: 9.3 days
Michael's contract allowed 6 months notice but only 4 months garden leave. He received £31,667 salary plus £3,800 pension contributions. His 9.3 accrued holiday days were worth £3,275 when paid out. This allowed time to plan his next role while maintaining full benefits, which he compared using a job offer comparison tool.
Part-Time Employee - 8 Week Garden Leave
Person: Emma, HR Advisor (3 days/week)
Situation: Resigned from part-time role, full notice as garden leave
Annual Salary: £24,000 (part-time)
Garden Leave: 8 weeks
Pension (8% total): £369
Total Received: £4,062
Holiday Accrued: 2.7 days
Emma's part-time status didn't affect her garden leave terms. She received £3,692 in salary plus £369 pension contributions over 8 weeks. Her holiday accrual was calculated pro-rata based on her 3-day working week (16.8 days annual entitlement). She used a take-home calculator to plan finances during the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is garden leave in the UK?
Garden leave is a period during which an employee who has resigned or been dismissed is paid their full salary but is required to stay away from the workplace. The employee remains employed and on the payroll but cannot work, attend the office, or contact clients or colleagues. This typically lasts for the duration of the contractual notice period.
The practice protects employers from potential risks when staff leave, particularly those with access to sensitive information or client relationships. During this time, you retain all contractual benefits including pension contributions and holiday accrual.
Do you get full pay during garden leave?
Yes, you receive your full contractual salary during garden leave, including all statutory benefits such as pension contributions, holiday accrual, and sick pay entitlement. Both employee and employer pension contributions continue at the normal rates throughout the garden leave period.
However, performance-related bonuses or commission may cease depending on your contract terms, as these typically require active employment. Your contract will specify whether such payments continue during garden leave.
How long can garden leave last in the UK?
Garden leave typically lasts for the duration of your contractual notice period. While contracts may specify longer periods (sometimes up to 12 months for senior roles), courts generally enforce garden leave for a maximum of 6 months as anything longer may be deemed unreasonable.
The duration must be proportionate to protecting the employer's legitimate business interests. More senior employees with longer notice periods typically experience longer garden leave, but 3 months is most common for mid-level positions.
Can I work for another employer during garden leave?
No, you cannot work for another employer during garden leave. You remain employed by your current employer and are bound by all contractual obligations, including exclusivity clauses. Starting new employment during garden leave would constitute a breach of contract.
You must wait until your employment officially ends (after the garden leave period completes) before starting a new role. Plan your start date accordingly when accepting new job offers.
Do I accrue holiday during garden leave?
Yes, you continue to accrue statutory holiday entitlement during garden leave at the normal rate (12.07% of time worked or 5.6 weeks per year for full-time employees). Any unused holiday must be paid out when your employment ends.
For example, 3 months of garden leave accrues approximately 7 days of holiday for a full-time employee with 28 days annual entitlement. This is calculated as (28 ÷ 365) × 91 days.
Can an employer force you to take garden leave?
An employer can only enforce garden leave if there is a specific garden leave clause in your employment contract. Without this clause, the employer cannot force you to stay away from work during your notice period unless you both agree to the arrangement.
The clause must clearly specify the employer's right to impose garden leave, the duration, and any restrictions on your activities. If your contract lacks this clause but you're asked to take garden leave, you can negotiate the terms or decline the request.
Is garden leave legal in the UK?
Yes, garden leave is legal in the UK when properly outlined in an employment contract. The contract must clearly specify the employer's right to impose garden leave, the duration, and any restrictions on the employee's activities during this period.
Courts will uphold garden leave provisions that are reasonable and proportionate to protecting the employer's legitimate business interests. Seek legal advice if you believe garden leave terms are unreasonable or improperly enforced.
What happens to my pension during garden leave?
Your pension contributions continue as normal during garden leave. Both your contributions and your employer's contributions are maintained at the same percentage rates as before, calculated on your full salary throughout the garden leave period.
For example, if you contribute 5% and your employer contributes 3% of a £45,000 salary, these 8% total contributions (£3,600 annually) continue throughout garden leave. This is a valuable benefit that maintains your retirement savings during the transition period.
Data Sources and Accuracy
This calculator uses official UK employment law and current government figures for 2026:
- Garden Leave Regulations: GOV.UK Garden Leave Guidance
- Holiday Entitlement: GOV.UK Holiday Entitlement Rights
- Pension Contributions: GOV.UK Workplace Pensions
- Employment Rights: ACAS Employment Guidance
Calculation Methodology: The calculator uses standard UK employment law formulas to determine garden leave pay, holiday accrual (12.07% or 5.6 weeks annually), and pension contributions. All calculations are based on your gross salary before tax and National Insurance deductions. Holiday accrual is calculated as (Annual Entitlement ÷ 365) × Days on Garden Leave. Pension contributions are calculated as percentage of gross salary for both employee and employer portions.
Last Updated: January 2026
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Garden leave terms vary by individual employment contract, and your specific situation may differ from these calculations. Actual pay, benefits, and entitlements depend on your contractual terms, company policies, and UK employment law. Always review your employment contract and consult with HR or legal professionals for advice specific to your circumstances. Bonus and commission payments during garden leave depend on contract wording and may not be included in standard garden leave pay.
Your Privacy and Data Protection
Your privacy matters. This calculator operates entirely in your browser using client-side calculations. We do not store, transmit, or collect any of your personal salary or employment data.
How It Works: All processing happens locally on your device using JavaScript. Your salary, pension details, and other inputs remain completely private and are never sent to our servers. When you close your browser, all data is automatically cleared. This ensures complete confidentiality for your financial planning.