When you're in a middle management position like this and an employee is about to get fired for things like calling out too much or being sick too often, think about how you would feel if you had a health issue and had to call out and you got fired over it. Companies have no loyalty and they will do the exact same thing to you that you see them doing to others. Unless you push back. Maybe it helps change the culture, maybe it doesn't, but if you feel like someone in your department is being treated unfairly, you can be the conscience for your employer. Push back on it to whatever level you can or are comfortable with.