2nd story landing / steps

I am building a small 2nd story landing and steps.
I am in deep heavy clay which is extremely difficult to dig by hand. By rights I would need to do a larger spread footing like one of those Bigfoot systems. The spot is very hard (not impossible) to get a mini excavator into.
I’m northeast so think 48” frost line.

So my question is what are the real world consequences of just pouring a pad and setting my 2 deck legs on that?
It will rise and fall with frost.
Does that loosen up my ledger connection to the building because it’s moving every year?

PLEASE the “it’s not up to code, you’re going to hell” people please just sit this one out. I don’t need it.

Treat this like your buddy is going to do something dumb even though he knows it’s dumb and you’re here to just tell him the potential repercussions.

Thanks in advance