Gardening leave—the practice of keeping departing employees on payroll but barred from working—is throttling Britain's economy. The policy, common in finance and tech, prevents talent from moving quickly to new roles, slowing innovation and competition. Critics argue it's time to scrap or severely limit the practice, which can stretch for months and locks up skilled workers in limbo. Proponents say it protects trade secrets, but mounting evidence suggests the economic cost outweighs the benefits. As the UK struggles with productivity growth, the debate over gardening leave is heating up.