18 totally believable excuses to not work after office hours ft. ChatGPT

December is here, and let’s face it—your mind is already wandering off about holiday plans, cosy evenings, and festive gatherings. The last thing you want to do is think about work. Of course, you can't completely escape it, but the idea of work creeping into your personal time during the holidays is downright dreadful. Whether it’s a never-ending meeting or a last-minute task, working beyond office hours in December feels twice as tedious.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to sacrifice your holiday spirit to last-minute demands. Sometimes, all it takes is the right excuse to gracefully make your exit without raising eyebrows. There’s always a plausible reason to step away. 

We asked ChatGPT for some inspiration and put together a list of realistic excuses to get out of working late. Whether it's for personal commitments, home issues, or something beyond your control, these excuses are both professional and practical. So, next time you need to leave on time, you’ll have a set of go-to reasons to keep things smooth and respectful.

I’ve had this eye appointment booked for weeks, and I’ll get charged if I cancel last minute, so I really need to go.

There’s a planned power outage in my area tonight for maintenance, and without electricity, I won’t be able to use my laptop.

My cousin’s wedding rehearsal dinner is tonight, and we still need to finalise everything for tomorrow. I promised to be there early to help out.

I just got home, and there's a reeking smell of gas in the kitchen. I’m calling the gas company to come check it out—there’s a potential leak at my place, and they need me to stay here while they check it out for safety reasons.

I got a call from the local transport authority about an issue with my vehicle registration that needs to be cleared up tonight.

I’m volunteering at a blood donation camp tonight, and they’re short on staff, so I can’t cancel last minute—it would leave them in a tough spot.

There’s a pest control service coming to my building tonight, and I need to make sure my apartment is ready for them before they start.

I’m on my way to a family obligation that I can’t cancel at the last minute. It’s something I really have to be there for.

I hate to do this last minute, but my bathroom is completely backed up, and the water's starting to flood my kitchen. I’ve called the plumber, but they can only come over now. I really need to be here to let them in and avoid further damage.

I need to visit the passport office tonight to verify some documents for my renewal. They’ve asked me to come in, and I can’t miss it.

My brother and I are getting together tonight to take care of some important family paperwork. We need to get it done to meet a deadline.

I’ve got a dentist appointment to have my wisdom tooth checked out—it’s been hurting all day, and I really have to go now before it gets worse.

It’s my parents’ anniversary today, and I’ve promised to spend the evening with them. They don’t get to go out often, so I really want to be there to celebrate with them.

I received a notification from the income tax department to clarify something on an old filing, and I need to get it sorted out online tonight.

My dog just started throwing up and I need to take him to the vet right away to get it checked out. It’s pretty sudden, and I can’t just leave him in pain.

My landlord is sending someone over to fix a leaking pipe in the bathroom, so I need to be there to let them in.

Lead image credit: Netflix 

Also read: Consult a coach: How do I prepare to step up at work?

Also read: Are we all becoming ruder at work?