Michael Del Rio has worked for nearly three years as a custodian at UC San Diego's Thornton Hospital, reporting to the same bosses, working with the same colleagues and cleaning the same facilities.
But he has led two lives. At first Del Rio worked for HireCare, a UC San Diego subcontractor. He earned $13.75 an hour with no benefits, and he had to work holidays and weekends — missing out on one of his son's birthday parties.
When the UC system hired him directly last year, his pay shot up to $15.83 with guaranteed annual raises. He has full health coverage and retirement benefits, providing the stability for his wife to now attend college full time.