Life happens—and sometimes, it happens during work hours.
Whether it’s a doctor’s appointment, a family emergency, or a once-in-a-lifetime event, there are times when you need to leave work early.
But how do you ask your boss for permission without sounding unprofessional or irresponsible?
Read on for 20 sample emails that will help you navigate this tricky situation with grace and tact.
Sample Emails on Leaving Early from Work
Sample Email 1
Subject: Request to Leave Early on Friday
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I am writing to request permission to leave work a few hours early this Friday, November 8th. My daughter’s school play is that afternoon, and I promised her I would be there to watch her perform. She has been practicing for months and is counting on me to be in the audience.
I plan to come in early on Friday to ensure all my work for the day is completed before I leave. I will also be available by email if any urgent matters arise.
Please let me know if you have any concerns or if there is anything else I can do to make sure my early departure does not cause any inconvenience to the team.
Thank you for your understanding,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 2
Subject: Doctor’s Appointment Wednesday Afternoon
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to let you know that I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for this Wednesday at 3:30 pm. It’s a routine checkup, but my doctor’s office is quite far from work, so I will need to leave the office around 2:45 to make it on time.
I plan to work through my lunch break that day to make up for the time I will miss in the afternoon. I will also ensure that all urgent tasks are completed before I leave and will be reachable by phone if anything comes up.
Please let me know if this arrangement works for you. I appreciate your flexibility.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 3
Subject: Requesting Early Departure for Family Emergency
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I apologize for the short notice, but I need to request permission to leave work early today. My elderly father had a fall this morning and is being taken to the hospital for evaluation. My sister is with him now, but I need to get there as soon as possible to help navigate his care.
I will do my best to wrap up my critical tasks before I leave and will bring my laptop with me so I can work from the hospital if needed. I expect to be back in the office tomorrow but will keep you updated if the situation changes.
Thank you in advance for your understanding during this family emergency.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 4
Subject: Leaving Early on Thursday for Visa Appointment
Hello [Boss’s Name],
As you may recall, I have been in the process of renewing my work visa. I just received notice that my visa interview at the embassy is scheduled for this Thursday at 10:00 am.
To allow enough time to get to the embassy and through security, I will need to leave the office by 8:30 am that morning. I expect to be back around lunchtime, but the interview process can sometimes take longer than anticipated.
I will come into the office early on Thursday to get a head start on the day’s tasks. I will also be sure to communicate my absence to the rest of the team and will be available on my cell phone if any issues come up while I am gone.
Please let me know if you need any additional information from me regarding my visa appointment.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 5
Subject: Jury Duty on Monday
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I received a summons for jury duty and am required to report to the courthouse this coming Monday morning. I’m not sure yet if I will be selected to serve on a jury, but I need to be there for the selection process which could take most of the day.
I will do my best to stay on top of emails from the courthouse and will let you know as soon as I have more information about the expected duration of my civic duty. I will also make sure to brief my team on the status of my projects before the end of this week.
Please advise how you would like me to proceed with my work responsibilities in light of this jury summons. I appreciate your guidance.
Regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 6
Subject: Request to Leave Early for Graduation Ceremony
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I am writing to request permission to leave work at 3 pm on Friday, June 10th. My younger brother is graduating from high school that evening, and I would like to be there to celebrate this important milestone with him and my family.
If approved, I plan to come into the office early that day and work through my lunch break to ensure all my work for the day is completed before I leave. I will also make sure my team is aware of my early departure and will be reachable by phone in case anything urgent comes up.
This is a very special occasion for my family and it would mean a great deal to me to be able to attend the full graduation ceremony. Please let me know if there are any issues or if you need any further information from me.
Thank you for considering my request,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 7
Subject: Dentist Appointment Friday Morning
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I have a dentist appointment scheduled for this Friday at 9 am. I have been experiencing some tooth pain and my dentist wants to see me as soon as possible to assess whether I will need a root canal.
I expect to be back in the office by 11 am, but dental procedures can sometimes take longer than anticipated, depending on the extent of the issue. I will keep you updated from the dentist’s office if it looks like I will need to stay later than expected.
I will block off the full morning on my calendar and will be sure to check my email periodically in case anything comes up that needs my attention. Please let me know if you have any concerns.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 8
Subject: Leaving Early for Volunteer Commitment
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I am writing to let you know that I will need to leave work at 4 pm this Wednesday. As you may know, I volunteer every week with a local food bank that distributes meals to families in need in our community.
Normally my volunteer shift starts after work hours, but this week the food bank is holding a special event and has asked volunteers to come in early to help with setup and meal prep. I feel it’s important for me to be there to support this important cause.
I plan to work through my lunch break on Wednesday to make up for some of the time I will miss in the afternoon. Please let me know if you foresee any conflicts or if you would like to discuss this further.
Thank you for your ongoing support of my volunteer work,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 9
Subject: Requesting Half Day Off for Funeral
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I am writing with a heavy heart to let you know that my grandmother passed away last night after a long illness. Her funeral is scheduled for this Friday afternoon, and I would like to request a half day off to attend the service with my family.
If approved, I plan to be in the office Friday morning to ensure that all critical tasks are handled and to brief my team on any outstanding items that will need to be covered in my absence. I will be back in the office on Monday morning.
I appreciate your compassion during this difficult time for my family. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 10
Subject: Leaving Early Today for Car Trouble
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to let you know that I am having car trouble this morning and will need to leave the office early today to get my car into the shop. The “check engine” light came on during my commute, and my car has been making concerning noises.
I have called my mechanic and they can see me this afternoon, but I will need to leave the office by 3 pm to drop off the car. I anticipate being without my car for at least a day or two, so I may need to work from home tomorrow if my car is not ready by then.
I will be sure to update my team and will be available by email and chat for the rest of the day. Please let me know if there are any meetings or deadlines I should be aware of before I leave for the day.
Thank you for your understanding,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 11
Subject: Half Day Friday for House Closing
Hello [Boss’s Name],
As you know, my wife and I have been in the process of buying our first home. I’m happy to share that our closing date has been set for this Friday at 2 pm.
I would like to request to take a half day off on Friday to attend the closing and get the keys to our new home. This is an exciting but nerve-wracking milestone for us, and I want to be fully present for it.
I plan to be in the office Friday morning to wrap up any loose ends and ensure my team is set up for success in my absence. I will also be reachable by phone if any urgent matters come up during the closing.
Please let me know if taking a half day on Friday works with the team’s schedule. I’m happy to discuss further if you have any concerns.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 12
Subject: Leaving Early for Child’s School Event
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I am writing to request permission to leave work at 2:30 pm this Thursday. My daughter’s elementary school is holding a special STEM expo that afternoon, and she is presenting a science project that we have been working on together.
This event is important to my daughter, and I want to be there to support her and see her hard work pay off. If approved, I will come into the office early on Thursday and work through my lunch to ensure all my tasks are completed before I leave.
I appreciate your understanding and flexibility with this request. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 13
Subject: Appointment with Immigration Lawyer
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to let you know that I have an appointment with my immigration lawyer this Friday at 10 am. As you are aware, I am in the process of applying for permanent residency, and this meeting is to review the final details of my application before submission.
I expect the meeting to last a couple of hours, so I will likely not be back in the office until around 1 pm. I will make sure all critical tasks are handled before I leave and will check my email while I am out in case anything urgent comes up.
Please let me know if there are any issues with me taking a few hours out of the office on Friday morning for this important appointment. I’m happy to make up the time over the week.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 14
Subject: Request for Early Departure – Family Matter
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I am writing to request your permission to leave work early next Wednesday, the 12th. I need to travel out of town to attend to an urgent family matter and would like to catch a 4 pm flight.
To ensure that my work is covered, I plan to come in early on both Monday and Tuesday to get ahead on my projects. I will also brief my team on the status of all outstanding tasks before I leave on Wednesday.
I expect to be out of the office for the remainder of the week, returning on Monday the 17th. I will have limited access to email but will do my best to check in once a day. Please let me know if you would like me to make any additional arrangements in my absence.
Thank you in advance for your understanding. I greatly appreciate your support during this time.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 15
Subject: Leaving Early for University Alumni Event
Hello [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to let you know that my university is holding a special networking event for alumni this Thursday evening. As an active member of the alumni association, I have been asked to give a short speech about my career path since graduation.
The event starts at 6 pm, so I would like to request permission to leave the office at 4:30 pm that day. This will give me enough time to get to the venue and prepare for my presentation.
I will make sure to complete all critical tasks before I leave and will have my phone with me in case any urgent matters come up. I believe this event could be a good opportunity to make some valuable professional connections that could benefit our company.
Please let me know if you have any concerns about me leaving a bit early on Thursday. I’m happy to discuss further.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 16
Subject: Request to Leave Early for Religious Holiday
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to inform you that this Friday is an important religious holiday for me. As part of my faith’s traditions, I will need to leave work early to attend a special service at my place of worship.
The service begins at 5 pm, so I am requesting permission to leave the office at 3:30 pm to allow enough time for me to get there. I will ensure that all my work for the day is completed before I leave.
I understand that this is a busy time for our team, so please let me know if there are any concerns with me leaving early on Friday. I am willing to come in early that day or stay late another day to make up the time.
Thank you for your understanding and respect for my religious observances. It means a great deal to me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 17
Subject: Leaving Early for Doctor’s Appointment
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor this Wednesday at 3 pm. As you know, I have been dealing with some health issues recently and this appointment is to review the results of some tests I had done last week.
I expect the appointment to last about an hour, so I would need to leave the office by 2:30 to allow enough time for travel and paperwork. I will make sure to complete any pressing tasks before I leave and will be available by phone if anything comes up.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about my early departure on Wednesday. I appreciate your ongoing support as I navigate these health challenges.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 18
Subject: Early Departure for Wedding Anniversary Trip
Dear [Boss’s Name],
I wanted to remind you that I will be leaving work early this Friday. As discussed last month, my spouse and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this weekend with a short getaway trip.
Our flight leaves at 4 pm on Friday, so I will need to leave the office around 1 pm to get to the airport on time. I will work diligently this week to ensure all my projects are in good shape before I leave.
I will be out of the office on Monday as well, returning on Tuesday morning. I will have limited access to email over the weekend but will check in once a day for any urgent matters.
Thank you again for approving this time off and for your well wishes on our milestone anniversary. I’m looking forward to this special trip.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 19
Subject: Child’s School Conference – Leaving Early
Hi [Boss’s Name],
I have a parent-teacher conference scheduled for my son this Thursday at 3:30 pm. This meeting is important to attend as it’s a chance for me to connect with his teacher and get an update on his progress in school.
To make it to the meeting on time, I will need to leave the office around 2:45 pm. I plan to work through my lunch break that day to make up for some of the missed time.
Please let me know if there are any critical meetings or deadlines I should be aware of before I head out on Thursday. I will make sure my team is up to speed on all ongoing projects.
Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. These school meetings are very important to me as a parent.
Regards,
[Your Name]
Sample Email 20
Subject: Requesting Early Departure for Continuing Education
Dear [Boss’s Name],
As part of my ongoing professional development, I have enrolled in an evening course at the local community college. The class, which focuses on new project management methodologies, starts this Tuesday and runs for the next 8 weeks.
The class is from 6-9 pm every Tuesday night. To allow enough time to battle rush hour traffic and get to class on time, I would like to request permission to leave work at 4:30 pm on Tuesdays for the duration of the course.
I am very excited about this learning opportunity and believe the skills I gain will be directly applicable to my work here. I will make sure that my early departure does not impact my work quality or output.
Please let me know if you are open to this arrangement. I’m happy to discuss further and answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for your support of my professional growth,
[Your Name]
Wrapping Up: Thoughtful Communication is Key
Asking to leave work early can feel uncomfortable, but there are many valid reasons why you may need to do so.
Whether it’s for a medical appointment, family commitment, or personal development opportunity, the key is to communicate with your boss in a clear, honest, and timely manner.
Use the sample emails above as a guide, but be sure to tailor your message to your specific situation and relationship with your manager.
Be upfront about your reason for leaving early, and offer solutions for how you will ensure your work is covered.
Demonstrating that you’ve thought through the impact of your absence shows responsibility and consideration for your team.
Remember, everyone has life events that sometimes interfere with work.
Chances are, your boss has been in a similar situation before and will understand, as long as you approach the conversation professionally.
By communicating proactively and considerately, you can meet your personal needs while still being a reliable and respected member of your workplace.