If the emergency requires urgent care, you can skip this and talk to your manager about the situation immediately. Leave may be paid or unpaid depending on the situation you’re experiencing and how much leave you’ve used throughout the rest of the year. If your company doesn’t have a leave policy or human resources (HR) department, then talk directly to your manager.

For example, you may say, “This morning, my father had a heart attack and is in critical condition, so I need to be there to monitor him and help support my mother. ” As another example, you could say, “My daughter’s school called and said that she needs to come home from school. My wife is traveling, and I have to step out and take care of her. ” You don’t need to tell your manager a full medical diagnosis if there’s an accident or medical emergency.

For example, you may say, “I plan on leaving today at lunch, and I can tentatively come back to work in 2 days, February 4th. Would that be alright?” If you don’t know how long you’ll be out from work, give your manager a time where you’ll contact them again so you can further explain the situation.

Your boss may also assign other employees to your duties. For example, you could say, “I can talk to Denise and Otto to help cover my paperwork and calls while I’m gone. ” If you know that you’ll need to leave unexpectedly in the future, like if your partner is pregnant and they go into labor, plan with other employees a few weeks ahead of time so they can continue working on your duties while you’re away.

Sending an email also protects you in case your manager says you left without any warning. Your manager may ask you to send the email to your company’s HR department as well.

The need for verification depends on your workplace. Check the employee manual to find the full details of what’s required.

Leave policies vary by company, so always look them up before sending an email to your manager. If your company doesn’t have an HR department or leave policy, talk directly to your manager to find out.

For example, you could write, “This morning, I was informed that my grandfather passed away during the night. I will need to help support my mother and make preparations for the funeral over the next few days. ”

For example, you can write, “I plan on starting my leave tomorrow, February 5th, and I will tentatively return to work on Monday, February 10th. ”

For example, you could include, “If there’s a serious question or a work emergency, you can reach me at (555) 555–0123 or example@gmail. com. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. ”

Depending on the company and emergency situation, you may receive paid or unpaid leave. Your manager may submit the email to the HR department so you don’t have to.

Companies usually require verification if you’re pulled out of work for more than a few days at a time. Your company may have an approved list of verification, so check the employee manual to see what’s required.