Taking emergency leave at MBB

From what I've seen, MBB firms are generally very accommodating when it comes to genuine family emergencies. Nobody expects you to prioritize a project over the health of a close family member.

Of course, being away for several weeks may require the team to restaff the project, but that's exactly why firms have staffing managers and larger teams. Life happens.

Could it have some short-term impact on staffing or timing of reviews? Possibly, depending on the circumstances. But in the grand scheme of things, it's much less important than taking care of your family.

My advice would be: if the situation arises, communicate early and be transparent with your manager and staffing team. They are usually much more understanding than people imagine.

And more broadly, don't lose sight of what really matters. Consulting is an important job, but it's still just a job. Family and health come first, and no career is worth compromising the things that are truly important in life.

All consulting firms are very understanding when it comes to genuine family emergencies; we're all human (and at the end of the day, their employees are their only real asset). If it's a real emergency, they will do their best to accommodate your needs.

The key is to communicate the situation clearly and make sure it's understood that this is an actual emergency.

On the other hand, I've personally also seen situations where colleagues abused leave for "family reasons" that weren't truly urgent. As long as it's a legitimate emergency, I wouldn't worry too much about it affecting your long-term trajectory. Your well-being and your family's well-being come first.

Best,
Franco

Hi there,

Emergency leave for a family health situation is genuinely accommodated at MBB. This is not the kind of thing that hurts your reviews or your standing, provided you handle the communication well.

A few practical points from having managed teams through this:

1. Flag it early: tell your manager and/or staffing as soon as you can, even if the timeline is uncertain. "I may need two to three weeks, I'll confirm as soon as I know more" is far better than a late surprise. They plan around people all the time; what they can't plan around is silence.
2. Hand over well: if you're on a project or proposal when it happens, transition your workstreams properly so nothing is left dangling, and if you can, make yourself reachable for quick coordination from time to time, at moments convenient to you rather than to the team.
3. Do not worry about reviews: you're assessed on what you delivered while on the project, not the weeks you were away. A genuine emergency isn't held against you, and handling the handover calmly and professionally tends to leave a good impression.
4. Check the mechanics upfront, and consider delaying your start: before you begin, quietly check how your contract and office handle extended leave. And if the situation is likely to come to a head in your first weeks, it may be cleaner to push your start date rather than begin and immediately step away. HR is the right place to raise these questions, and it's a completely normal conversation.

Hope it helps and the situation with your family member turns out okay.

Federico

You do not need to panic about this. MBB firms are incredibly professional and accommodating when it comes to sudden, genuine family medical emergencies.

What most people get wrong is trying to hide the situation, push through the work, and let their performance slip. If you underperform because you are distracted by a crisis, that will hurt your reviews. If you are upfront with HR and your project leadership, they will handle it smoothly. They will roll you off the project and bring in a replacement from the beach so the client is not impacted.

What actually matters is early, clear communication. If an emergency happens, tell your Partner and Engagement Manager immediately. Taking a few weeks off for a family emergency will not kill your career or destroy your future staffing prospects. MBB firms have deep benches and formal leave structures precisely for these kinds of life events.

Hope this helps, and I hope everything turns out okay with your family member.

Hi there,

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your potentially challenging situation!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your situation:

• First of all, contrary to what other coaches have said, I would strongly advise you not to bring up this topic until it happens. While consulting firms are usually quite human on real emergencies, you really don't want to come across in your first weeks and months as someone who "always has a problem", as unjustified as it may be.
• Moreover, most consulting firms also have formal options like personal or compassionate leave, so I would advise you to speak with HR and your people or development manager about the official policy in case the situation materializes, since they can set it up properly and quietly for you.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

hey!

Emergency leave at MBB is absolutely possible and firms are generally kind and accommodating when it involves a family health situation. It does not tank your reviews if you communicate early and clearly. What matters is a clean narrative: you inform staffing, give a rough timeline, and stay reachable for basic coordination. People handle this by speaking directly with staffing + their EM/PL, taking the needed weeks, and returning without penalty. MBBs see this regularly and treat it as part of normal life, not a performance issue. If you want, I can outline a short staffing communication flow.

Alessa

Hi,

When you start work at MBB, it's very easy to be consumed by the work (whether or not consciously or subconsciously). But family is something that should matter more than work, in my opinion. 

If you need the leave - take it. 

Generally staffing and people are understanding. 

And if they are not - then frankly that particular office may not be the best place for you. 

All the best!

Hi there,

From my experience, if you have a personal reason, they are always very flexible and accommodating. Everybody has some struggle at some point or another, so do communicate with them as early as you can and I'm sure you'll figure out a solution.

Best,
Cristian