[1] Generally, the term is reserved for employees of non-business institutions such as schools, police, and hospitals.
[2] In academic settings, administrative leaves are provided for the same purpose as sabbaticals and research/study leaves, i.e., to allow individuals to improve themselves academically and to engage in research to foster their effectiveness as teachers and scholars.
Administrative leave does not in itself imply that an employee will be disciplined or that an allegation is credible, which is why pay and benefits are not discontinued.
It simply allows the employer to investigate the incident, maintaining the employee's status while at the same time removing them from work, eventually leading to either their return or dismissal.
"[4][5] Whistleblowers may also be placed on administrative leave as a way to protect them from potential harassment of a supervisor, such as if they report a case of research misconduct from the principal investigator of an academic project.