re: Employee trying to make me fire them on Christmas

If I read everything correctly the person has only been employed with you for five weeks.

Typically any company or business that is smart has a 90 day probation period. Upon the persons date of hire the HR person or a supervisor should have went through minimum expectations within that 90 day period.

This person seems to have failed at the minimum standards such as showing up for work during the 90 day probation period. I would assume or hope showing up for work would be a minimum standard.

At this point when the employee comes back to work have a review of the employees 90 day performance. Then let this person know they have failed to meet minimum performance standards.

Then let this employee go with their check if they earned anything.