Garden Leave vs Non-Compete: Understanding Restrictive Covenants

Many employment contracts include either a "garden leave" clause or a non-compete clause — and many employees don't know the difference. Both restrict your ability to work after leaving, but they work differently. Garden leave requires you to sit idle and do nothing for a period; a non-compete prevents you from working for competitors. Understanding which you're signing — and which is more common in your industry — is essential.