Calling in sick doesn't mean you're bedridden. What a jerk the co-worker is! When I was managing a network group, a couple of guys regularly called in sick, and always on a Friday or Monday to extend their weekend. I chastised them but wouldn't think of firing them. They called me a sucker for rarely calling in sick, even when I didn't feel good. After I retired, I realized they were right. I didn't get compensated for the lost sick-time accumulated due to rules (don't use it, then lose it at year-end).
No one laying on their deathbed says, “Man I wish I would’ve went to work more....”
“What a jerk the co-worker is!”
The dude who was pulling double duty while the slacker was in the pub?
My old roommate was a cop and he had been in a serious accident when a lady ran stop sign a T-boned him in his patrol car. He was supposed to be off duty for a week with whiplash but had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some medication for his asthma.
By the time he got back to his house his chief was calling him because some dick head cop saw him driving.
He took off his neck brace, ate a hand full of advil and reported to his shift that night.
JThis is also an example of how cutthroat cops can be when one of them thinks another one is getting something they should get.