What backfiring? Getting fired? You can get fired even for being there and doing good work. You can get fired even if working overtime (plenty of people have). For most companies you are nothing, a mere "human resource".

At least the guy had lots of fun and free time doing his thing for while it latest. I don't see any backfiring.

"What backfiring? Getting fired?... I don't see any backfiring."

Yes, being fired was the "backfiring" here, as in a-direct-consequence-of-actions.

Sure, you can lose your job for no fault of your own, too, but you seem to be conflating the inherent unpredictability of life to the level of cause-and-effect.