If the benefits of employment provided for so many sick days, why would anyone care whether this chap was really sick or not? It's a paid day off no matter. No note from the doctor or your wife is necessary. And what was the guy who squealed on him doing in the pub himself?
When I was younger, I used to call in every once in a while when I woke up and felt especially good to call my employer to say I wasn't going in. I wasn't "sick" as in ill, but just sick of going to work everyday. I needed a break. I would take a day off when I felt good and wanted to stay home. I took a sick day and nobody cared otherwise.
I'm retired now and I spent my last twenty years working for myself, so I could do what I wanted. Played golf every Friday and didn't have to feel guilty about playing hooky from work because I was my own boss.
But now I have upper respiratory issues that cause me to be short of breath after sleeping all night, so I need to do a couple of breathing treatments before I feel good enough to get moving in the mornings sometimes.
How does that differ from not feeling well and calling in a sick day to stay home (or go to the pub or pharmacy or grocery store or the movie theater, etc.)? It's not any different.
A judge and a court ruled in his favor so there's the defining answer. He was within his rights to go have a couple of drinks whilst he was called into work sick.
Why should the government have a say if a private business fires some one for cause?