2 years ago I could have been that lad that you mention.
I was in his position, worked flat out somedays for an hourly wage, really started getting me down and was getting home exhausted. I had enough of that grey matter to realise I could do better on my own, now if there had been bonuses, incentives for working harder, I may not have quit and gone self employed as it was hard starting from scratch but 2 years on I'm smiling, well most of the time
Is he that cheeky? well only you can really decide that or know if your paying him a decent wage for what he does. In my case I got no sick pay other than statutory after 3 days, bank holidays came out of my 20 days annual leave and if I could'nt work due to the weather or a lack of work recieved no pay. On top of all that I did quotes and debt collected and fixed equipment/vehicle so in the end it was a no brainer!
I'm not wishing to sound critical of others here just pointing out that the minds of an employer and an employee will always have different perspectives and I can see where the lads coming from and having been there can sympathise with him to an extent.
Simon