[philpem]

If they're paying you to take garden leave, you're technically still employed by them. By my reckoning, that wouldn't leave a gap.

Another possible explanation: "I took a two-year sabbatical to work on my own projects and improve my skills".

[Gibbon1]

What I care about is the two years of not working, that's long enough to get seriously rusty and having to make up stuff when talking about work experience when interviewing.

One time I got $50k and full salary to stay on with a group that was in run down mode. I wouldn't take that option again.