My husbands grandma isn’t doing very well. Her dementia is getting worse & her health is deteriorating very fast. I called my work as soon as I got the call from my mother-in-law last night to get our butts there ASAP before it’s too late.

I told work I would need at least 4 days, one for driving there (12 hour drive), 2 for visiting & 1 day to drive back. My direct supervisor told me she won’t approve the time off. I said “well not going isn’t a choice so I guess I’m calling out those days” & she told me if I called out I wouldn’t have a job anymore.

Mind you, I have NEVER once called out. If I need time off I always request it at least a month in advance.

I get it, it’s a super inconvenient time but we don’t get to pick when a family member is about to die. I’m not going to have someone make me chose between family & having a job, because it’s an easy choice for me; I’ll pick my family. Jobs are replaceable, family is not.

Is this something I should contact HR about?

Edit to add: grandma isn’t in a living facility. She’s at her own home with a full time caregiver & my husbands uncle lives with her too. Going to visit isn’t going to be an issue other than my work giving me a hard time.