(ca) Manager Denied Sick Day Unless I Brought In A Dr Note For One Day.

Location: California

My brother went to work normally the last 3 days in a row. He felt sick while he was at work last night and threw up while working. He used AI to call off work sick for today, but still has to let the manager know. So he texted the manager. He said he would need a DR note to excuse him from work. My brother doesn’t have health insurance and it would cost more than what he makes in a day to go. So, he said he couldn’t afford that and said he would be at work. She told him to feel better and get some rest. ???? He told me, he would basically be fired from work if he didn’t go.

—————————
Some things to note:

He works security. His job isn’t life or death. Think of someone who is security for a Ross or TJ Max. But it’s NOT those places. There is someone who could fill in for him.

His shift doesn’t start for 8 hours. It wasn’t short notice.

He has paid sick time saved and available.

It’s not adjacent to his days off. He would still work the next day.

It is a BIG well known security company. They are not exempt.

He only ever takes his 3 sick days a year and never calls off other than that. He does not have a pattern of calling off.

He is well liked by his coworkers and when corporate came in last month to discipline many, he was one of two people who were NOT in trouble or disciplined.
—————————

My question is what are his options here? Because this isn’t legal or fair. A big company like this shouldn’t be able to get away with this. But at the same time he doesn’t want to be fired. He’s been working there 10 years. He only gets $18 an hour. He can’t afford to lose his job, as he wouldn’t be able to afford rent/bills. He can barely get by right now and if he got fired for retaliation, the unemployment wouldn’t cover rent, let alone bills.

Are there any options going forward? Can he just never have a sick day again or risk being fired?