As I understand it, yes, but being <some long duration> "out of the game" is a large opportunity cost if your intent is to go right back into finance. So the gardening leave is often not the best decision, career-wise, unless you're planning to exit finance altogether.

IMO, it's healthier for the overall industry/market if talent can move more freely. As one example, it makes it much more challenging for toxic cultures to persist in their current form, if the Sword of Damocles (NCA) isn't hanging above the off-ramp.