Sometimes, the needs or obligations of your personal life coincide with working hours, prompting you to leave work before the workday is over. In such cases, you’d submit a permission letter requesting early leave. Should you ever need to leave the office early, it can be helpful to understand the importance of a permission letter and what it should include.
In this article, we discuss the function of permission letters for early leave, the importance of asking for permission to leave the office early and the steps involved in writing such a letter and provide a sample letter to help guide you in your writing.
What is a permission letter for early leave?
A permission letter for early leave is a document or email you submit to your supervisor to ask whether you can end the workday before the designated time. For many organizations, a normal workday totals eight or nine hours, so early leave would allow you to leave the workplace at any point beforehand. There are a variety of reasons why an employee might need to leave the office early, including but not limited to sudden illness, doctor’s appointments, family obligations and duties related to the home.
The contents of an early leave permission letter include:
The applicable date of your early leave
The time at which you need to leave
Why you need to leave early
Early leave is often a same-day request. However, if you know that you need to leave early on a specific date, it’s a good idea to submit the permission letter as soon as possible.
The importance of asking for permission to leave early from the office
There are several reasons why it’s important to ask for permission to leave early from the office:
It’s required
As an employee, you’re obligated to adhere to the rules stipulated by your employer, including those relating to working hours. Exceptions to contractual hours need approval by a supervisor to ensure you don’t experience any penalty. A permission letter initiates the approval process and ensures you have officially documented allowance for your absence during part of the workday.
It’s considerate and professional
If you’re requesting early leave in advance of the applicable date, a permission letter acts as a notice that allows your supervisor and your colleagues to cover your shift and/or work. If there are deadlines on or around the time of your leaving, they can help you complete your tasks by covering part of your work or adjusting the schedule. As a result, no one’s expected to take on responsibilities for which they aren’t prepared.
Moreover, taking the time to craft an official business document or email demonstrates professionalism. It shows that you respect the position of your supervisor, are aware of the needs of your colleagues and appreciate that they must make adjustments to your account
