It isn’t a stretch. I can’t speak to other states but in Texas, it is almost guaranteed. I had added an edit to my previous comment. The fact that it was approved before we submitted our objection tells you enough.
Why would he get paid for not showing up for 2 weeks, at least when I went on parental leave I had to talk to HR every week I didn’t work and ask them to use my sick time, even then they’d forget and I’d have to remind them before the week was off otherwise I wouldn’t get a check
Salaried employees get paid by default. Someone has to notify accounting to not pay the person, not the other way around. This has been the process for every company I have ever worked for, or owned. I am not saying that what you are saying isn’t true, I am saying that it is fucked up.