Family emergency - possible to speed up 2-week notice at work?

I recently accepted a job in another country and gave me two-week notice to my team. The original plan was to spend my one free week after I left work at home, get logistics and things sorted, then get on a plane and start work the following day (yeah, I know, it's rushed already and I'll be jet lagged my first day at work, but there are circumstances I won't get into and can't be helped)

But I just heard my grandmother is in critical condition and is in a coma. I'm really worried and paranoid of the worst case scenario. My two weeks isn't over till the end of next week. I was wondering if it's possible to leave a few days earlier, and then fly out 1 week early? Problem is, our team is already pretty small and top heavy, and there's a big project and they're already short staffed. Obviously, I don't want to burn bridges and this is really abrupt, but this is also a family emergency. I want to be there for her.

Does anyone have any prior experience with this?

Thanks everyone.

8 Comments
 

If they trust you, be honest with your situation.

If they don't trust you, be honest and show them proof to back up your story.

I would like to think most people will be understanding.

 

I don't know if I can show "proof", but when I heard the news I wasn't able to fight back tears. I'm not sure if I would be able to tell them without tearing up or taking a lot of pauses to keep my emotions in check, to be honest.

 

I don't think I would ask my relatives who are there to take a picture of her. I'm not going to get into details but tensions are high and it could come off as very trivial. Besides my grandfather, I haven't told any of my other relatives there that I'm actually moving there for work, not just to visit, though I assume he would have mentioned it to them. I was hoping to tell her over the phone, but she was already having difficulty speaking and listening.

That's pretty fucked up about the person wanting a death certificate.

I can't imagine anyone lying about family related situations with a straight face. At least, I've never heard of such a thing.

 
Best Response

First, sorry to hear about your situation.

WSO_demo

That's pretty fucked up about the person wanting a death certificate.

I've had professors ask me for a program of the funeral before. I politely told them to go fuck themselves. No class/day of work is worth missing the funeral of a loved one. Priorities.

WSO_demo I can't imagine anyone lying about family related situations with a straight face. At least, I've never heard of such a thing.

Believe me, it happens. I had a close friend in undergrad who consistently said those types of things to get extensions on papers. I once read an e-mail he sent to a theology professor explaining how his paper would be late because his father had had a heart attack. (I won't even go into the irony of it being a theology class)

His Dad never had a heart attack.

Again, sorry about your situation, but fuck work, family is the most important thing there is in this world.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Consequuntur velit reprehenderit sunt sunt et. Nam soluta est ut omnis dolorum. Saepe et suscipit odit. Qui ipsum voluptatibus odit ut necessitatibus. Explicabo quia eum voluptate unde. Consectetur aut libero quisquam vitae in sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”