Sometimes you may have personal obligations that interfere with your work schedules.
When that happens, leaving work early is generally acceptable upon approval by your employer.
There are many good reasons why you need to leave work early or call in sick at the last minute, but you need to communicate your request clearly.
We will look at how can we effectively ask your boss to leave work early with examples that you can use to format your request.
How to Ask to Leave Work Early
Similar to calling in sick for work, you’ll need to ask to leave work early professionally. If you want to ask for time off from your work, you can consider some of these steps.
1. Choose a Format
The format where you can use to ask your employer to leave work early depends on your working environment.
Working onsite in Office
If you are working in the office, you can just give your employer a call or drop by his office to make the request.
Working Remotely
If you are working from home or conducting your work remotely, you can probably schedule a virtual meeting or send an email to inform your employer about your request.
2. Consider Your Reason for the Request
Even when your employer wants to let you leave work early, the reason you give has to make logical sense.
Your employer may need to explain to his or her superior why they let you leave work early.
Top excuses that let you leave work early are,
- Having a sick child and informing your boss that you need to send them home from school or daycare.
- Medical reasons that you need to go home and rest.
- Appointments or events that you need to prepare early.
But if you need specific believable reasons to leave work early, you can check out some of the best reasons to give to your boss and leave work early and professionally in my other article here.
3. Notice Your Employer Early
Giving a sufficient notice period to your employer for your upcoming absence is a form of respect for your work and your employer.
Your employer needs to have enough time to arrange your replacement and approve your request. A notice of at least a week or more will be reasonable.
But if it is an urgent request that requires you to leave work immediately, inform your employer as soon as you know the information.
How to Negotiate For Leaving Work Early?
Negotiating to leave work early is possible with a little bit of planning, common sense, and timing your request right. But there are 3 main steps for a successful negotiation.
- First, you will need to have a solid reason for why you need to leave early.
- Second, try to offer up a solution that will alleviate any potential problems for your boss.
- Third, be willing to compromise on other aspects of your job.
When it comes to negotiating for leaving work early, there are a few key points to keep in mind.
What you should do when negotiating with your boss to leave work early?
- Show compassion and understanding for your boss. Understand their goals and arrange your work around them.
- Be proactive. Think of different plans and solutions on how you can best complete your task at hand and present these solutions to your boss during the negotiation.
- Build relationships with people around you. Building a good relationship with people around you so they can be your support when help is required.
What you should not do when negotiating with your boss to leave work early?
- Avoid talking about your personal views and the troubles you face outside your work. You can mention them but don’t dwell on them. Just be honest about your family obligations.
- Avoid being rigid. You’ll need to think outside of the box and be creative with solutions on how to get your work done. It can be having remote working arrangements or flexible hours arrangements. Most important is to be open to options.
- Avoid being too emotional. There are chances that your boss might not want to listen or accommodate your request. Don’t get all defensive and become too emotional. Be objective about the issue and come together to find a solution that works for both of you.
Request To Leave Work Early Template
Here are some templates you can use to ask your boss or manager to leave work early when required.
Request to Leave Work Early for Family-Related Issues
“Hi, [Boss Name]. I’ve just received a call [Family issues].
I will need to [What you’ll need to do to resolve this issue?]
Will it be ok if I leave work after [Proposed timing] to [What you need to do]?
In the meantime, I will [How you make up for leaving work early].”
Request to Leave Work Early for Health-Related Issues
“Hi, [Boss Name]. As I am feeling [Health issues],I will like to leave work early to [See a doctor or rest at home].
I may need help in following up on [Task that needs to be follow-up].
When I am back at work I will [How you make up for leaving work early].”
Request to Leave Work Early for Events or Appointments
“Hi, [Boss Name]. As I am attending [Event], I’ll need to [Your Reason to leave work early].
Is it okay with you if I leave work early at [Propose time], so I can [Reason for leaving work early]?
In the meantime, I will [How you make up for leaving work early].”
How to Ask For Permission to Leave Work Early (Sample)
Below are some simple examples of how you can tell your boss or manager you need to leave work early.
Leave Work Early Due To Family Emergency
“Hi, Mr. John. I’ve just received a call from my son’s teacher, and he said she is not feeling well.
I will need to pick up my kid from school as the school will not allow kids who are sick to be in school.
I will need to stay at home with him, but I can work from home to finish the task at hand.
Will it be ok if I leave work after lunch to pick him up?
In the meantime, I will complete all the critical tasks before I leave the office.”
Leave Work Early Due to Sickness
“Hi, Mrs. Suzy. As I am having a very bad headache, I will like to leave work early to see a doctor.
I may need help in following up on the entry of this list of names into the database that is due today.
When I am back at work I will complete the rest of the data entry.”
Leave Work Early Due to Mental Health
“Hi, Mr. Smith. I am feeling burnout at work. I hope to seek your approval to leave work early today to rest at home.
I will complete all urgent tasks today and follow up on any pending tasks tomorrow when I am back.”
Leave Work Early Due to Pregnancy
“Hi, Mr. Robertson. I’ll be having a doctor’s appointment for my pregnancy this afternoon.
I’ll like to leave work early at 3.00 pm to attend my doctor’s appointment.
I’ve completed all the required tasks today, there will be nothing to follow up for the day.”
Leave Work Early Due To Event
“Hi, Mrs. Mary Jane. As I am attending my friend’s wedding at 6 pm later, I’ll need to get to the event location on time.
Is it okay with you if I left work an hour early at 4 pm, so I can reach the wedding venue on time?
In the meantime, I will complete all the task that is to be completed by today before I leave the office.”
Up Next… Tips on working from home for parents with kids
“How to negotiate?”
Check out this video below!
Read Also:
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- How to Deal with a Toxic Work Environment (7 Proven Tips)
- 9 Signs of a Toxic Workplace (Quit Now!)
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A.C.
A.C is the Founder of HQHire. Sharing his experience as a management professional in a Fortune 500 Company, he talks about real-world career advice on job search, career advancement, and hiring the right people for the team. As the Founder and editor, he works with career experts to provide working professionals with realistic and actionable career advice that can help even the average joe in the corporate world to achieve success in their career.He is on a mission to provide actionable and reliable information that can create a positive change for each of his readers. Currently, A.C. is authoring a new book that will helps individuals to get out of procrastination and unlock their hidden talents.