### I don't ask permission. I tell them, "I need to" in those cases.

The "supervisor" isn't living in the real world and just wants his ego stroked so he can feel like he has more control than he actually does.  He's playing a game and you're not. His game is that you should act like he has a choice so he can feel more like the boss.

Think about what he's saying when he says you should ask for permission: "I am the one who gets to decide whether or not you get to go to a funeral. I'm the one who decides if it's important enough for me to let you attend, and I might not let you."

We all have situations where we just aren't asking permission because we're not going to let other people dictate certain aspects of our lives.  Funerals of family members are one example.  Others would include:

 - Surgery for a loved one or myself
 - Illness or accident
 - Court
 - Life events for loved ones (like a daughter graduating college)
 - Appointments that simply can't be changed.


I ask permission (or at least assent) for things like doctor's appointments during busy times and things like that. **But I'm not going to ask permission for something when a negative answer isn't going to stop me from doing it.**