Good excuses to leave work early are important to have in your back pocket in case of an emergency.

Sometimes you may have to leave work early for a legitimate reason, like an appointment or family emergency. But other times, you just need to get out of there. Of course, you don’t want to use excuses all the time or your employer will catch on.

If you’re looking for good excuses to leave work early, I’ve got you covered.

21 Good Excuses to Leave Work Early That Your Boss Can’t Deny

Tip: The most important thing to remember when using any of these excuses is to sound convincing. If you don’t believe your own excuse, your boss certainly won’t.

1. Not feeling well

Whether it’s a headache, stomachache, or just a general sense of being unwell, feeling sick is a perfectly valid reason to cut your day short. Of course, it’s important, to be honest with your boss and not use this excuse too frequently.

But if you really are feeling under the weather, then it’s important to listen to your body and head home. After all, there’s no point in pushing yourself when you’re not feeling up to it. Plus, you don’t want to risk getting your co-workers sick.

2. Family emergency

Family emergencies should always take precedence over work. If you have a family emergency, then of course you need to leave work to take care of it. This could be anything from a sick child to a family member in the hospital.

Your boss will understand that you need to take care of your loved ones and will likely give you the time off that you need.

3. Doctor or dentist appointment

Whether it’s a regular check-up or something more serious, doctor’s appointments are a valid excuse to leave work early. If you have a dentist appointment, you can also use that as an excuse.

Your boss will understand that you need to take care of your health and will probably be more than happy to let you leave work early for your appointment. Just be sure to schedule your appointment for a time when it won’t interfere too much with your work schedule.

4. Need to run errands

You may need to leave work early to run errands, like picking up a prescription or dropping off dry cleaning. These things can’t always be done during your lunch break or after work, so it’s perfectly understandable if you need to leave work early to take care of them.

Sometimes you need to go to the bank or post office, which may require taking more time off from work. But as long as you let your boss know in advance, they’ll likely be understanding.

5. Car maintenance and trouble

If your car needs to be serviced or repaired, then you’ll have to leave work early to take care of it. This is especially true if you don’t have a spare car or can’t get a ride from someone.

If your car needs servicing, you’ll have to drop your car off during business hours, which means taking time off from work. And if your car breaks down, you’ll need to leave work to get it towed and repaired. This could be anything from a flat tire to a dead battery.

6. Home maintenance and repair

If there’s something wrong with your home, like a leaky faucet or broken window, then you’ll need to leave work early to take care of it. Of course, you can’t always predict when these things will happen, but it’s important to take care of them as soon as possible.

Your boss will likely understand if you need to take some time off from work to take care of your home. And if it’s something that can’t wait, like a broken window, then you may need to leave work early to deal with it.

7. Your child is sick

If your child is sick, then you’ll need to leave work early to take care of them. This is especially true if they’re too young to stay home alone or if there’s no one else who can watch them. Your boss will likely understand if you need to take some time off from work to take care of your child.

Of course, it’s important to not use this excuse too frequently. But if your child is really sick, then you need to take care of them and can’t always predict when they’ll get sick.

8. Babysitter/daycare emergency

If you have a babysitter or daycare emergency, then you’ll need to leave work early to take care of it. This could be anything from your babysitter canceling last minute to your daycare closing early.

9. Need to take care of a pet

Pets are a part of your family, so it’s important to take care of them when they’re sick. And sometimes, they need more care than we can give them during the day.

If you need to take care of a pet, then you’ll need to leave work early to do so. This could be anything from taking your dog to the vet or groomer to dealing with a sick pet.

10. Utilities and service outages

If your power goes out or your water gets shut off, then you’ll need to leave work early to take care of it. These are things that are out of your control, so your boss will likely understand if you need to take some time off from work to deal with them.

Just be sure to let your boss know as soon as possible so that they’re not left in the dark (literally).

11. Weather conditions

If the weather is bad, then you may need to leave work early to avoid getting stuck in it. This could be anything from a snowstorm to a hurricane.

Of course, you should only use this excuse if the weather is truly bad and you’re in danger of getting stuck somewhere. But if the weather is bad and you need to leave work early, your boss will likely understand.

12. Going to work from home

Working in the same spot day in and day out can take its toll both mentally and physically. If you feel like you need a break from the office, tell your boss you’re going to work from home for the day. This way, you can get some peace and quiet while still getting your work done.

If your job can be done from home, and if you’ve given your employer ample notice, it shouldn’t be a problem to leave work early to work from home for the day.

13. Self-care or mental health day

Sometimes, you just need a day to yourself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain burnt out, it’s okay to take a step back and take a day for yourself to recharge. This could mean taking a mental health day or using some of your paid time off to relax and rejuvenate.

While your boss may not be thrilled about you taking a day off, if you explain that you need some time for self-care, they should understand. After all, a happy and healthy employee is a productive one.

14. Victim of crime

If you’ve been the victim of a crime, it’s understandable that you would want to take some time off from work to deal with the aftermath. Whether you need to go to court or meet with the police, taking some time off will help you deal with the situation in a more effective way.

Be sure to communicate with your boss about the situation and why you need to take some time off. They should be understanding and accommodating given the circumstances.

15. Networking event

Attending a networking event can be a great way to meet new people and learn about new opportunities. If there’s an event you want to attend that’s during work hours, see if you can leave early to attend.

Your boss may be hesitant to let you leave early, but if you explain that the event could benefit your career, they may be more understanding. Just be sure to make up the time you miss later on.

16. Family arriving in town

If you have family coming into town, it’s only natural that you would want to spend some time with them. While you may not be able to take the entire day off, see if you can leave work a bit early so you can spend some quality time with your loved ones.

17. Need to prepare for the next day

If you have a big presentation or meeting the next day, you may want to leave work early so you can prepare. This way, you’ll be more likely to succeed and impress your boss.

18. Feeling exhausted

Sometimes, you just need to listen to your body and take a break when you’re feeling exhausted. Whether you didn’t get enough sleep the night before or you’re just running on empty, if you’re dragging yourself through the workday, it may be time to call it quits early and go catch up on some much-needed sleep.

If you explain your situation to your boss, they should understand. After all, no one can be productive when they’re exhausted.

19. Delivery or installation

If you’re expecting a delivery or installation, it can be helpful to take the day off or leave early so you can be there to accept it. Small packages can be left outside your house, but if you have an appliance or furniture being delivered, you’ll need to be there to let the delivery person in and sign for the item.

If you are getting cable or Internet installed, you may need to take the day off or leave work early so you can be there for the technician. Otherwise, you’ll have to reschedule the appointment, which can be a hassle.

20. Wedding or funeral

If you have a wedding or funeral to attend, you’ll obviously need to take the day off. But in some cases, you may be able to leave work early if you have to travel long distance or you still need to get some work done.

If your boss is understanding, they should have no problem accommodating your request to leave early. Just be sure to make up the time you miss later on.

21. Home maintenance

If you have to take care of some home maintenance, like fixing a leaky faucet or painting your living room, it may be easier to do it during the day while you’re not working. This way, you can get it done without having to use up your precious free time.

Your contractor may be able to work around your schedule, but if not, you may need to take a half day off or leave work early.

Excuses to Leave Work Early When Working from Home

1. Wi-Fi Issues

If your Wi-Fi connection is acting up, it can be tough to get anything done. Let your boss know that you’re having trouble connecting and see if you can leave early to troubleshoot the issue.

You don’t have to use your mobile data if you don’t want to, but it can be a last resort if your Wi-Fi is really giving you trouble.

2. Children or Pets Need Your Attention

If you have young children at home, it can be tough to focus on work when they need your attention. If your boss is understanding, see if you can leave early to take care of them.

The same goes for pets. If your furry friend is sick or needs to be taken to the vet, it can be tough to focus on work. See if you can leave early to take care of them.

3. You’re Feeling Sick

You can fall sick even when working from home. If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s best to rest and recuperate. See if your boss is okay with you leaving early to rest.

4. You Need to Take Care of Personal Errands

If you have personal errands to take care of, then this is a perfectly valid excuse to leave work early. Just be sure that you don’t use this excuse too often, or your boss may start to wonder what’s really going on.

5. You’re Experiencing Technical Issues

If you’re having trouble with your computer or other work-related equipment, it can be tough to get anything done. Let your boss know about the issues and see if you can leave early to troubleshoot the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it okay to ask to leave work early?

If you have a valid reason, like an emergency or a doctor’s appointment, then it is okay to ask to leave work early. But if you’re just trying to get out of work early for no good reason, your boss may not be too happy about it.

2. How do I get time off work for stress and anxiety?

Talking to your boss or superior about the stress and anxiety you’re feeling at work is a good first step. They may be able to give you some time off or help you find a solution to the problem.

3. How do I ask for a half day off work?

If you need a half day off work, it is important to mention your availability, state the reason for your half-day off work, and mention when you will be next available in the office. Additionally, you can also make sure that someone else is available to cover for you.

4. What is a good excuse to miss work last minute?

A family emergency or a personal emergency is both good excuses to miss work last minute. If you have an appointment that you can’t reschedule, that is also a good excuse. If you are sick, that is usually a good excuse as well. Lastly, if there is bad weather, that is usually a good excuse to miss work last minute as well.

5. How do I leave work early without anyone knowing?

One way is to make up an excuse, such as if you have an appointment or you are not feeling well. Another way is to ask your boss if you can leave early.

If your boss says no, then you can try asking a co-worker if they can cover for you. Lastly, you can just leave without telling anyone but be prepared for some consequences.

Final Words

There you have it – 21 good excuses to leave work early. Of course, you should use these excuses sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. But if you do need to leave work early, these excuses will help you do so without raising too many eyebrows.

Do you have any other good excuses to add to the list? Let me know in the comments below.