How to handle an employee sick day situation?

[Jonas]

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking to get a pair of fresh eyes/perspective on a potential disciplinary situation I'm currently tasked with at work. Some background - I'm an art director for an in-house marketing department for a well known company. I manage 3 employees in my department. I've only been there a few months and inherited all 3 employees to manage.

One Friday I have a particular employee not show up and text-in sick at 12:30PM. He, and the entire department are due in at 9am. Tardiness has been an issue since I've been there (they would usually arrive between 9:30-9:45 every morning) and before the New Year I had a conversation with the group telling them I expected them in no later than 9:15AM every morning. His text at 12:30 was:

"I caught the flu today and can't make it in. Sorry."

While I had been waiting for him that morning we were speculating as to where he could be or why he was late. Someone brought up that he posted on instagram the night before that he was doing shots celebrating Chinese New Year. Ironically, one of the comments on the instagram post asked him if "things will be rough at work tomorrow?" (Presumably because of his drinking that night). His response was:

"Things are gonna be very rough tomorrow LOL."

What do you make of this situation/How would you react if you were managing this particular employee?

Thanks in advance, any input I could get on this would be greatly appreciated.

[Brent G]

I would fire him.
It's clear insubordination because he lied and abused sick days, plus it will give you an opportunity to make an example out of him to the rest of the staff to show that you won't put up with this anymore.

Remember, this is insubordination and lying, which unlike attendance issues, can be an immediately fireable offense if you want it to be. In your recommendation, still include that you had these conversations around attendance and DO get confirmation of his instagram post.

[Kathy]

Do you need documentation to fire him? IF so start right now You know there are the three steps--address issue and agree to start time and what constitutes tardy. Second, if tardy write him up and have him sign it and instruct him that third will be dismissal. Third, dismiss him.
I would tell him that incidentally, his posting of his evening escapades added to the reasons he is being written up.

[Hamoon A]

Just fire him because he said he had the flu but he didn't and just to make sure have the instagram post