In October, Fox News reported that a second Obama term would guarantee the president’s health care law will be fully implemented. It said Darden Restaurants, which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garde and LongHorn Steakhouse, would have to layoff workers or shift to more part-time employees to avoid the Affordable Healthcare Act.
Well, that isn’t going to happen according to statement released yesterday by the Orlando-based restaurant group:
None of Darden’s current full-time employees, hourly or salaried, will have their full-time status changed as a result of healthcare reform.
Each of Darden’s new and existing restaurants will have full-time hourly employees because that is what it takes to fully deliver the experiences guests expect.
In 2014, all of Darden’s full-time employees, including hourly, salaried and executive employees, will have access to the same insurance plan coverage.
Darden Group figured out that full-time employees are key to its success.
“Although our workforce historically has been heavily part-time, we have always had a significant number of full-time employees and they are integral to our success,” Darden Chairman and CEO Clarence Otis commented. “The data we have collected during our test around guest satisfaction and employee engagement has only reinforced this. As we think about healthcare reform, while many of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s rules and regulations have yet to be finalized, we are pleased we know enough at this point to make firm and hopefully reassuring commitments to our full-time employees.”