Gardening leave
Discussion
I’m currently facing the prospect of between 8-12 months of fully paid gardening leave as I move between jobs
I have to say I’m feeling a bit weird about it as I’m something of a workaholic so whilst sitting in a beach for a few weeks would be nice I’m likely to get v bored
Just wondered if anyone else had done this and what they did?
I’m thinking maybe learn the piano or learn python or something?
I have to say I’m feeling a bit weird about it as I’m something of a workaholic so whilst sitting in a beach for a few weeks would be nice I’m likely to get v bored
Just wondered if anyone else had done this and what they did?
I’m thinking maybe learn the piano or learn python or something?
Last time I was on garden leave I built a 3D digital model of the house so I could try different designs for extensions. Ended up getting carried away and putting in a daft level of detail. Great fun.
On a related note I saw someone on PH did an incredible job of making a physical scale model of their garage, complete with cars, which looked awesome.
On a related note I saw someone on PH did an incredible job of making a physical scale model of their garage, complete with cars, which looked awesome.
If I had a load of down time fully paid I would consider charity work and helping your local community as a great use of my time.
10 years ago I would not have even considered it due to time constraints and not having a sense of community where I used to live but having done a bit and met some great people along the way I would say give as much as you can back by helping other people.
10 years ago I would not have even considered it due to time constraints and not having a sense of community where I used to live but having done a bit and met some great people along the way I would say give as much as you can back by helping other people.
I took voluntary redundancy a year ago and had 4 months off between jobs and am now taking 3 months off.
I wrote out a list of all the things I wanted to achieve from jobs around the house to the goals around health and exercise, right through to how I want the routine with my daughter to be, i.e do drop off and pick up and go watch her do gymnastics etc when normally I couldnt due to work.
So perhaps set the goals you've never been able to do due to work and enjoy, it's rare opportunity.
I wrote out a list of all the things I wanted to achieve from jobs around the house to the goals around health and exercise, right through to how I want the routine with my daughter to be, i.e do drop off and pick up and go watch her do gymnastics etc when normally I couldnt due to work.
So perhaps set the goals you've never been able to do due to work and enjoy, it's rare opportunity.
Fitness - set some goals
Stay up to speed with your topic/domain and consider some personal development. That’s a very long time to be out of the daily cycle.
Learn some skills - baking bread, etc
Plan a holiday that you could never normally do? ( pandemic allowing)
Charity - many need good trustees. Princes Trust news good mentors for young people and businesses.
TL:DR
Check your agreement carefully, you may not have to sit and do nothing.
I had 6 months gardening leave from a US company once, but because they were American they didn't understand gardening leave properly, so there were basically no restrictions, and I started a new job and got paid double for 6 months.
They were already pissed off about having to pay anything because they thought they could just get rid like they would in America, but had to pay me the 6 months, plus my due bonus, plus the bonus for the gardening leave period.
Most lucrative period of my working life.
Check your agreement carefully, you may not have to sit and do nothing.
I had 6 months gardening leave from a US company once, but because they were American they didn't understand gardening leave properly, so there were basically no restrictions, and I started a new job and got paid double for 6 months.
They were already pissed off about having to pay anything because they thought they could just get rid like they would in America, but had to pay me the 6 months, plus my due bonus, plus the bonus for the gardening leave period.
Most lucrative period of my working life.
sociopath said:
TL:DR
Check your agreement carefully, you may not have to sit and do nothing.
I had 6 months gardening leave from a US company once, but because they were American they didn't understand gardening leave properly, so there were basically no restrictions, and I started a new job and got paid double for 6 months.
They were already pissed off about having to pay anything because they thought they could just get rid like they would in America, but had to pay me the 6 months, plus my due bonus, plus the bonus for the gardening leave period.
Most lucrative period of my working life.
Even if you can OP I’d highly recommend 3months off, it did me wonders to recharge when I had mine.Check your agreement carefully, you may not have to sit and do nothing.
I had 6 months gardening leave from a US company once, but because they were American they didn't understand gardening leave properly, so there were basically no restrictions, and I started a new job and got paid double for 6 months.
They were already pissed off about having to pay anything because they thought they could just get rid like they would in America, but had to pay me the 6 months, plus my due bonus, plus the bonus for the gardening leave period.
Most lucrative period of my working life.
I had 4mths between my last and my current and am expecting to be put out the same very soon again between my current and my next.
The last time (and also my first time) was in 2013, my wife and I decided to spend it travelling and went to the US for a month with the intention of roadtripping - what actually happened was we landed in Vegas for a week long blow out and ended up staying for an amazing 3mths over June/July/August and then flew on to Thailand for September to relax a bit before coming back ready for my new start mid-october.
This time around we have a school-age child (and which lock-down has proved we have been able to homeschool to a higher standard than the state schools approach) so we are contemplating similar but the current context of the world is hampering us somewhat so it may not happen.
The last time (and also my first time) was in 2013, my wife and I decided to spend it travelling and went to the US for a month with the intention of roadtripping - what actually happened was we landed in Vegas for a week long blow out and ended up staying for an amazing 3mths over June/July/August and then flew on to Thailand for September to relax a bit before coming back ready for my new start mid-october.
This time around we have a school-age child (and which lock-down has proved we have been able to homeschool to a higher standard than the state schools approach) so we are contemplating similar but the current context of the world is hampering us somewhat so it may not happen.
I have had two periods of gardening leave in my career.
First I went travelling, easy to stay connected, with some time around Europe and then Australia. Great experience.
Second time, a bit older, joined in with family life took kids to school, got involved in homework (GCSE and A level time), de-stressed and became a nicer human being. Superb development before taking on my current role. I look back and realise what a complete git I had become at work. In mitigation for myself it was wrapped up in a bereavement and some major health issues. Even so, I am glad that I did not have to work with me!
Now I am trying to ensure that I do not turn back into that micro managing, aggressive idiot. I live in hope (and watchfulness for the signs!!).
What do you want to do with it? What strengths can you build upon?
First I went travelling, easy to stay connected, with some time around Europe and then Australia. Great experience.
Second time, a bit older, joined in with family life took kids to school, got involved in homework (GCSE and A level time), de-stressed and became a nicer human being. Superb development before taking on my current role. I look back and realise what a complete git I had become at work. In mitigation for myself it was wrapped up in a bereavement and some major health issues. Even so, I am glad that I did not have to work with me!
Now I am trying to ensure that I do not turn back into that micro managing, aggressive idiot. I live in hope (and watchfulness for the signs!!).
What do you want to do with it? What strengths can you build upon?
Curious as to why you don't know whether it's 8 or 12 months? Mine's in my contract but never heard of anyone having gardening leave of that long! If I was a company hiring, I'm not sure I'd want to wait 8-12 months for a replacement.
Anyway, to your question: I'd probably pick up a project car to keep me busy, combine that with a bit of volunteering and some jobs around the house and garden and time with kids and that would probably be enough to fill the time. Might be worth adding what your interests are and whether there's anything related to work that you want to be doing to keep your head in the game?
Anyway, to your question: I'd probably pick up a project car to keep me busy, combine that with a bit of volunteering and some jobs around the house and garden and time with kids and that would probably be enough to fill the time. Might be worth adding what your interests are and whether there's anything related to work that you want to be doing to keep your head in the game?
AyBee said:
Curious as to why you don't know whether it's 8 or 12 months? Mine's in my contract but never heard of anyone having gardening leave of that long! If I was a company hiring, I'm not sure I'd want to wait 8-12 months for a replacement.
Anyway, to your question: I'd probably pick up a project car to keep me busy, combine that with a bit of volunteering and some jobs around the house and garden and time with kids and that would probably be enough to fill the time. Might be worth adding what your interests are and whether there's anything related to work that you want to be doing to keep your head in the game?
Mine is 6 months, my boss 12 months. In our roles we have access to a lot of company data and it needs time to become less useful.Anyway, to your question: I'd probably pick up a project car to keep me busy, combine that with a bit of volunteering and some jobs around the house and garden and time with kids and that would probably be enough to fill the time. Might be worth adding what your interests are and whether there's anything related to work that you want to be doing to keep your head in the game?
For senior roles we will wait a year against a longer term plan (e.g. a retirement, a major key account or a geography we want to expand into)
Family circumstance matters. I've done 3 months twice, once when my kids where very young & another when they'd just left home & so 2 very different ones.
The fist was a lot of kid time, various trips etc. The second time I just went skiing for the season with my wife.
It really depends on how mobile you can be and how much you want to spend.
The fist was a lot of kid time, various trips etc. The second time I just went skiing for the season with my wife.
It really depends on how mobile you can be and how much you want to spend.
Thanks all for the responses some useful stuff in there
To answer some of the questions
Would love to travel but obviously covid currently is an issue although I’ve had my first jab
I definitely want to spend a bit of time doing nothing but suspect I would be bored
I’m a partner in a large professional services firm and I’m going in the main competitor so they are likely to keep me out for at least 6 months - this is all documented in the partnership agreement and can technically be 18 months at its longest. I can’t work in any field that’s in competition with my firm which is slightly tricky as we do a lot of random stuff.
Volunteering is a good shout. I will have a look into that.
To answer some of the questions
Would love to travel but obviously covid currently is an issue although I’ve had my first jab
I definitely want to spend a bit of time doing nothing but suspect I would be bored
I’m a partner in a large professional services firm and I’m going in the main competitor so they are likely to keep me out for at least 6 months - this is all documented in the partnership agreement and can technically be 18 months at its longest. I can’t work in any field that’s in competition with my firm which is slightly tricky as we do a lot of random stuff.
Volunteering is a good shout. I will have a look into that.
Edited by db10 on Tuesday 20th April 14:10
I can’t help you with your question, OP, and I can’t help being nosey either. My wife is in the same role as you with a similar firm or perhaps the same one (we once exchanged a few posts about the job) and AIUI no one ever moved firms once they were a partner. My OH has certainly never been aware of anyone doing it anyway, so you must have a good reason for making the change!
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