Our Impact: Transforming Lives and Communities

At the Employee Rights Center (ERC), our impact is measured not only by the services we provide and but also by the transformative outcomes we achieve for individuals, families, and communities.  Over the years, ERC has established itself as a trusted resource for workers, immigrants, and underserved community members in San Diego County. Below are some of the quantifiable achievements that highlight our dedication to justice, empowerment, equity, and wellbeing.

Immigration Program: Empowering New Americans

  • Citizenship Applications: Processed 448 N-400 applications since September 2021, with a 99% success rate for applicants achieving citizenship.
  • Fee Reductions: Saved families $6,460 through reduced application fees since April 2024.
  • Interest-Free Loans: Granted $59,955 in interest-free loans since 2021 to support naturalization applicants, all repaid on time.
  • Economic Impact: Families experience an 8-11% wealth increase in the first 10 years after obtaining citizenship.
  • Savings on Legal Fees: Saved families over $1.1 million in legal fees by providing free application assistance.

Workers’ Rights Program: Fighting for Fairness

  • Legal Aid: Provided monthly legal aid to 40-50 workers, assisting approximately 600 workers annually.
  • Wage Recovery: Helped recover over $1.5 million in benefits and $250,000 in unpaid wages in a single year (2009).
  • Collaborations: Established partnerships with four law firms to provide free legal consultations for workers.
  • Contracts: Secured a contract with the County of San Diego to act as the primary information line for the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE).

Health & Wellbeing Program: Supporting Holistic Wellness

  • Health Clinics: Hosted approximately 1 – 3 health clinics a month since 2020, serving over 6,600 individuals annually.
  • Medical Applications: Submitted over 100 Medi-Cal (free health insurance) applications in 2023 alone, saving families thousands of dollars in insurance, medication and healthcare costs.
  • Food Distribution: Supported community members with access to essential food and resources through monthly to tri-monthly distributions.

General Achievements: Building Community Resilience

  • Community Engagement: Engaged  with over 148,000 people through calls and texts connecting them to services since 2019.
  • Voter Education: Fostered civic engagement among over 300 newly naturalized citizens through voter education and registration.
  • Educational Outreach: Reached thousands through educational campaigns, workshops, and informational sessions on topics like extreme heat awareness and workers’ rights.

Systemic Advocacy: Shaping Policies for Justice

Through our leadership in collaboratives such as OLSE, NAC, and NDLON, ERC has driven systemic change to create fairer workplaces and equitable systems:

  • Workplace Justice Fund: Launched to support workers impacted by wage theft and labor violations.
  • Anti-Wage Theft Ordinances: Enforced compliance measures for county vendors, ensuring wage protections for workers.
  • Citizenship Backlog Reduction: Reduced naturalization backlogs, enabling faster processing for applicants.
  • Whistleblower Protections: Secured safeguards for immigrant workers reporting labor violations.
  • Championing Disability Access! Ensured people with disabilities can access naturalization services.