Employer refused leave for potentially life threatening surgery. Employer requested postponement of 1 week but employee refused. Employee fired after

This is a terrible situation and an awful thing for the employer to do.  However, the law in North Carolina law does not require an employer to allow an employee to have time off for any type of medical issue including surgery. The only time an employer must allow an employee off for such a situation is if the employer is covered by the FMLA and the employee is FMLA eligible. There is a requirement that the time off be for a "serious health condition" but surgery other than comestic or in office is almost always covered.