If you don't have a no-call no-show policy already, ask HR to create one. It should state that if an employee misses a day of work without calling in to let you know he's sick, or doesn't come with a doctor's note (like if he was hospitalized he probably wouldn't call you right away) that they will be fired immediately.

I do not know why this employee was not fired immediately during the probation period. If I had an employee just no show during the probation period, I would have let them go instantly.

You need to get rid of this person ASAP. The absenteeism is enough to go on, you don't need the poor work, although that could be a back up. You simply tell them, "the next time you are absent from work without approval, I will have to let you go. When you are absent even with approval, it affects the workload of everyone else. When you are constantly absent without notice, it's even worse." The next time they slip up, you warned them, and they are gone.

The longer you wait to remove someone from a position, the harder it is legally to get rid of them because you will have established a track record of allowing unacceptable behavior.

I hope this helps.

Seesaw