In the US we have freedom. The government does not micromanage and dictate what employee benefits must be.

Correct. The evil gubbermint does not 'micromanage' benefits by saying that... you have to actually be paid for overtime, or that your employer cannot fire you and steal the PTO that you have left.

I have nothing but contempt for the crime syndicates that you call European governments. That said, this is something I am rather happy with.

Yes, it is unreasonable to make up some obviously-fake bullshit like "my daughter is being molested so I can't work". That makes no logical sense. Even if it was true that his daughter got molested, it's not like he had to be there watching her 24/7 to prevent it. That's not how that works.

You're defending the indefensible. I've seen people have to take time off for stuff much less severe than this. Besides, you don't know his situation. That he is a libtard doesn't matter. He may well be in the right here. And even if he weren't in the right, I'd still want him to win, because he's a lesser threat than Vox Media. Always side with your weaker opponent when he is fighting against your stronger opponent.

If you're on salary, not hourly, all time off is "paid"

Oh, you sweet summer child. Have you ever been a wage slave?

He must be on salary or Vox would not have cared at all.

Not how it works. They'd have to arrange a replacement for his work even if his time off were unpaid.