The city has finally acknowledged the error and offered Bob a path forward that respects his years of dedicated service. It is a relief to see justice reach this conclusion after such an arduous period for his family. Thank you for staying committed to this effort until his rights were …
December 16, 2015
Final supporters
What if after 20 years of time, skills, and effort given to a job you truly loved, your body didn’t work as well as you wished? Would you simply walk away from the work you cherish? Could you afford to lose all your accumulated sick pay and medical benefits?
Bob Pippin is endearingly known and widely recognized as “Gas Man” throughout the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, for his years spent working for Charlottesville Natural Gas through the Department of Public Works. Throughout Bob’s career he has managed to work with a disability in a state of remission...but, recently, the disease process became active. Sadly, Bob’s body can no longer sustain the hours normally required in the field; however, with his doctor’s agreement and help from the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations can be made which will allow him to continue his employment albeit at a lesser number of working hours than he has performed in the past.
Armed with doctor’s orders for a reduction of workday hours, Bob requested reasonable accommodations of the City of Charlottesville, but the city failed to do so.
Though the city is breaking federal law, Bob was cited for misconduct and terminated in January of 2015. This is a wrongful termination of a man whose history with Charlottesville Natural Gas is long and whose employment reviews have been consistently good to excellent for 20 years.
Suddenly, and very surprisingly, Bob, our Gas Man, is without much needed medical benefits, as well as other benefits he has worked for.
Imagine if, after 20 years, you asked your boss for a few adjustments so that you could stay on the job and enjoy the same people and share the same joy of knowing your specialized field with others...your superiors not only decided to drop you from employment completely, they cited you for misconduct for being late for work - three times - and let you go.
Unemployment insurance is denied due to misconduct. Bob has had no option but to use his life savings for medical needs, food and housing, all the while asking the city to at least consider a proper goodbye which would afford him the benefits he spent 20 years serving the city to have for his future.
Bob and his wife lost their house to foreclosure and are now staying in their daughter’s basement.
What is happening to Bob can happen to you...but it really doesn’t have to.
When you sign this petition, you can help Bob and other City of Charlottesville employees. The Charlottesville Independence Resource Center (CIRC) is concerned for Bob. They can help the city manager and his panel understand federal disability laws, and correct human resource policies involving disability law so that nobody has to suffer.
The city of Charlottesville can make this right with your help. Sign this petition to tell Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones to rescind Bob’s wrongful termination. Tell him to reinstate Bob Pippin’s medical and other benefits like back pay and back vacation/sick time that he would have earned if not for the termination. If you believe retirement should be reflective of a full career and wages, help Bob replace all the savings used to keep up with his medical and other needs this year.
The information shared is not intended to be a reflection of Charlottesville’s City Manager. Bob believes Mr. Jones is a person of integrity and of good moral character who truly wants to do right for the employees of Charlottesville. But like other municipal employees, Mr. Jones is bound by politics and policies of Charlottesville and of his superiors.
Let’s get as many signatures as we can to show our support and correct the wrongful termination of Bob and also show support to our city’s leaders who simply need to amend the way they handle disabilities within the workplace.
To learn more, click on any of the broadcast news stories as we UPDATE them here:
11.13.2015: Connie Pippin talks with Rob Schilling of The Schilling Show on Newsradio 1070 WINA. Listen to the podcast: Connie Pippin talks about #HelpBob Pippin
11.11.2015: CBS19's Courteney Stuart interviews Bob and Connie Pippin. Watch the video: Formerly Missing Man Fights for Retirement Benefits.
11.11.2015: NBC 29 News takes on the case and speaks with the Executive Director of Charlottesville's Indepenent Resource Center. Watch the video here: Wife of Former City of Cville Employee Petitions City
11.10.2015: Connie Pippin (Bob's wife) was invited to appear on Joe Thomas's show on WCHV. If you'd like to hear more of Bob's story before you sign the petition, click here to hear the podcast!
Thank You.
Updates
November 21, 2015
Watching this signature count reach two hundred and fifty confirms that Bob's story resonates far beyond the workplace. It is heartening to see this community acknowledge the value of twenty years of dedicated service.
Reached 250 supporters
November 18, 2015
November 17, 2015
The stories shared in the comments illustrate how deeply Bob Pippin has impacted our community over his twenty years of service. I am currently working to ensure these reflections reach the appropriate administrative channels so that his long history of dedication is properly understood.
Reached 100 supporters
November 10, 2015
76 Comments
Bob gave a good 20 years to this job; his health condition is not something he caused by his lifestyle. RA is an autoimmune condition. He should be allowed to work a modified schedule or to be given a disability supplement and able to continue with the insurance. Be fair to this man that has always been fair in his work ethics.
As a resident and a government worker, I expect more from our elected officials. Please handle this with tact and restore this man's dignity.
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you Bob. I pray for a quick resolution for you to have what you need. I live with trigeminal neuralgia myself and understand what it is like to live with a disease process that makes everyday things more of a challenge. People do not truly get it, until they're living it. <3 God bless you and your family.
Don't be heartless! Make the accommodations needed so Mr. Pippin can continue the job he loves. By dismissing him you are adding to the societal problem of unemployment which ends up costing taxpayers. Let this man continue his job & dignity.
It's shameful to fire someone with health issues that they can't control just so you don't have to give them their benefits. Late three times? Poor excuse and a dubious reason to fire someone who has a history of good work.
Bob Pippin is a wonderful man and is a very hard worker who deserves compassion and a second chance since that is exactly how he treats others. Please give him his job back as he needs money to support his family and his American dream.
please take care of your people.. who had taken care of your business for years
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The city has finally acknowledged the error and offered Bob a path forward that respects his years of dedicated service. It is a relief to see justice reach this conclusion after such an arduous period for his family. Thank you for staying committed to this effort until his rights were …
December 16, 2015
Final supporters
What if after 20 years of time, skills, and effort given to a job you truly loved, your body didn’t work as well as you wished? Would you simply walk away from the work you cherish? Could you afford to lose all your accumulated sick pay and medical benefits?
Bob Pippin is endearingly known and widely recognized as “Gas Man” throughout the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, for his years spent working for Charlottesville Natural Gas through the Department of Public Works. Throughout Bob’s career he has managed to work with a disability in a state of remission...but, recently, the disease process became active. Sadly, Bob’s body can no longer sustain the hours normally required in the field; however, with his doctor’s agreement and help from the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations can be made which will allow him to continue his employment albeit at a lesser number of working hours than he has performed in the past.
Armed with doctor’s orders for a reduction of workday hours, Bob requested reasonable accommodations of the City of Charlottesville, but the city failed to do so.
Though the city is breaking federal law, Bob was cited for misconduct and terminated in January of 2015. This is a wrongful termination of a man whose history with Charlottesville Natural Gas is long and whose employment reviews have been consistently good to excellent for 20 years.
Suddenly, and very surprisingly, Bob, our Gas Man, is without much needed medical benefits, as well as other benefits he has worked for.
Imagine if, after 20 years, you asked your boss for a few adjustments so that you could stay on the job and enjoy the same people and share the same joy of knowing your specialized field with others...your superiors not only decided to drop you from employment completely, they cited you for misconduct for being late for work - three times - and let you go.
Unemployment insurance is denied due to misconduct. Bob has had no option but to use his life savings for medical needs, food and housing, all the while asking the city to at least consider a proper goodbye which would afford him the benefits he spent 20 years serving the city to have for his future.
Bob and his wife lost their house to foreclosure and are now staying in their daughter’s basement.
What is happening to Bob can happen to you...but it really doesn’t have to.
When you sign this petition, you can help Bob and other City of Charlottesville employees. The Charlottesville Independence Resource Center (CIRC) is concerned for Bob. They can help the city manager and his panel understand federal disability laws, and correct human resource policies involving disability law so that nobody has to suffer.
The city of Charlottesville can make this right with your help. Sign this petition to tell Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones to rescind Bob’s wrongful termination. Tell him to reinstate Bob Pippin’s medical and other benefits like back pay and back vacation/sick time that he would have earned if not for the termination. If you believe retirement should be reflective of a full career and wages, help Bob replace all the savings used to keep up with his medical and other needs this year.
The information shared is not intended to be a reflection of Charlottesville’s City Manager. Bob believes Mr. Jones is a person of integrity and of good moral character who truly wants to do right for the employees of Charlottesville. But like other municipal employees, Mr. Jones is bound by politics and policies of Charlottesville and of his superiors.
Let’s get as many signatures as we can to show our support and correct the wrongful termination of Bob and also show support to our city’s leaders who simply need to amend the way they handle disabilities within the workplace.
To learn more, click on any of the broadcast news stories as we UPDATE them here:
11.13.2015: Connie Pippin talks with Rob Schilling of The Schilling Show on Newsradio 1070 WINA. Listen to the podcast: Connie Pippin talks about #HelpBob Pippin
11.11.2015: CBS19's Courteney Stuart interviews Bob and Connie Pippin. Watch the video: Formerly Missing Man Fights for Retirement Benefits.
11.11.2015: NBC 29 News takes on the case and speaks with the Executive Director of Charlottesville's Indepenent Resource Center. Watch the video here: Wife of Former City of Cville Employee Petitions City
11.10.2015: Connie Pippin (Bob's wife) was invited to appear on Joe Thomas's show on WCHV. If you'd like to hear more of Bob's story before you sign the petition, click here to hear the podcast!
Thank You.
Updates
November 21, 2015
Watching this signature count reach two hundred and fifty confirms that Bob's story resonates far beyond the workplace. It is heartening to see this community acknowledge the value of twenty years of dedicated service.
Reached 250 supporters
November 18, 2015
November 17, 2015
The stories shared in the comments illustrate how deeply Bob Pippin has impacted our community over his twenty years of service. I am currently working to ensure these reflections reach the appropriate administrative channels so that his long history of dedication is properly understood.
Reached 100 supporters
November 10, 2015
76 Comments
I find it alarming that the city I once called home could treat such a loyal employee so badly. The Mayor, the Director of HR and the City Council disappoint with their cold, callous treatment of Bob. Violating ADA laws is a can of worms they don't want to open. Not to mention a civil rights suit and a reminder to Charlottesville voters at every City Council election.
Bob gave a good 20 years to this job; his health condition is not something he caused by his lifestyle. RA is an autoimmune condition. He should be allowed to work a modified schedule or to be given a disability supplement and able to continue with the insurance. Be fair to this man that has always been fair in his work ethics.
As a resident and a government worker, I expect more from our elected officials. Please handle this with tact and restore this man's dignity.
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you Bob. I pray for a quick resolution for you to have what you need. I live with trigeminal neuralgia myself and understand what it is like to live with a disease process that makes everyday things more of a challenge. People do not truly get it, until they're living it. <3 God bless you and your family.
Don't be heartless! Make the accommodations needed so Mr. Pippin can continue the job he loves. By dismissing him you are adding to the societal problem of unemployment which ends up costing taxpayers. Let this man continue his job & dignity.
It's shameful to fire someone with health issues that they can't control just so you don't have to give them their benefits. Late three times? Poor excuse and a dubious reason to fire someone who has a history of good work.
Bob Pippin is a wonderful man and is a very hard worker who deserves compassion and a second chance since that is exactly how he treats others. Please give him his job back as he needs money to support his family and his American dream.
please take care of your people.. who had taken care of your business for years
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I find it alarming that the city I once called home could treat such a loyal employee so badly. The Mayor, the Director of HR and the City Council disappoint with their cold, callous treatment of Bob. Violating ADA laws is a can of worms they don't want to open. Not to mention a civil rights suit and a reminder to Charlottesville voters at every City Council election.