[Keirmot]

Garden leave also happens in Portugal, but only when the relation between employer and employee deteriorated to the point of no return. As an example in the same company I had a co-worker layed off with 3 months notice, while in the previous year a different person in the same team was called to HR during the day, and let go - we all found out he was fired on the next daily stand up.

[mytailorisrich]

Well, if you're fired it's either that your performance was inadequate or that you did something serious enough. In the latter case, in general there is no notice period and in the former, well obviously they don't want you around anymore...

[mytailorisrich]

For those who might not know: To be fired is not the same thing as being laid off. To be fired meand being at fault, hence my previous comment.