[markus_zhang]

Usually an off day is for kids or other urgent matters, such as water leak or basement backflow.

Our invisible middle aged family man/woman does not have the luxury to be "off".

[jpmoral]

OP meant "off day" as in a day when you're not at your best, not a day off.

[necovek]

All the same, with kids, most of your days are your "off days" (not enough sleep or rest or energy), but you aren't really entitled to them.

My solution has been to move to more of a supporting role (engineering manager, or architect or similar).

Basically, if you are unavailable (as in not very productive), things still move along and happen, even if a bit suboptimally.

[markus_zhang]

Ah thanks, that explains my initial confusion...

[MaxHoppersGhost]

Can’t take a sick day either, need to save those for the kids.

[markus_zhang]

Yep, basically my kid's sick days. Kinda regret that I didn't shoot for $$ when young. Since the probability to find a work I enjoy is close to zero, better grab more cash.