Posted on 10/08/2012 10:58:57 AM PDT by Sam's Army
In an experiment apparently aimed at keeping down the cost of health-care reform, Orlando-based Darden Restaurants has stopped offering full-time schedules to many hourly workers in at least a few Olive Gardens, Red Lobsters and LongHorn Steakhouses.
Darden said the test is taking place in "a select number" of restaurants in four markets, including Central Florida, but would not give details. The company said there has been no decision made about expanding it.
In an emailed statement, Darden said staffing changes are "just one of the many things we are evaluating to help us address the cost implications health care reform will have on our business. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the health care regulations and we simply do not have enough information to make any decisions at this time."
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
"Janney Capital Markets analyst Mark Kalinowski said the cost of providing that could become higher for Darden under the Affordable Care Act. Because that law requires everyone to have health insurance, more workers will likely choose its coverage, Kalinowski said."
And as usual, the take from local media is that Darden is "greedy".
This time of year is typically “open enrollment” time. I expect a lot of employees all across the country are going to be shocked by the changes.
Valerie: Did you hear about Olive Garden? They’re trying to get around the Obamacare costs by only hiring part time workers.
Obama: Get me my pen. We need another Executive Order mucho pronto. Going through Congress is so, so yesterday. Gotta just love that Living Constitution.
“unexpected”
I thought the olive garden people were big lefty contributors.
EXCELLENT!
More part-time employees=higher job numbers!
The program is called obamaDOESN’Tcare.
Surprisingly, Darden Restaurant’s CEO has been a major Obama donor in the past... /s
[Darden, the world’s largest casual-dining company and one of the nation’s 30 largest employers, said it offers health insurance to all its approximately 185,000 employees. Many are offered a limited-benefit plan. That type of coverage is being phased out under health-care changes, which will ban annual limits for most plans.]
Bump
< / sarcasm >
I bet the DIM CEO isn’t cutting his hours so he won’t have insurance. Some are more equal than others.
Yes, and?
The rules were only supposed to apply to conservative businesses.
Obama’s dream-com-true; a nation of part-time workers.
If they do not, the companies can face fines of up to $3,000 for each employee who then turns to an exchange an online marketplace for insurance.
"I think a lot of those employers, especially restaurants, are just going to ensure nobody gets scheduled more than 30 hours a week," said Matthew Snook, partner with human-resources consulting company Mercer.
Darden said its goal at the test restaurants is to keep employees at 28 hours a week.
Thanks obamma! Thanks Democrats! We are turning into a nation of part-timers. 25% less pay with no health insurance. Thanks again obamma and Democrats!
And then the employees will be socked with a penalty if they don’t have heath insurance. Obamacare is really working out well.
Fake Italian, Fake Seafood, and Fake steak, worse places I have ever eaten.
They are. This is why they are getting a pass. Imagine the media firestorm if Chick-fil-A tried the same thing.
An added bonus, every full time job that is converted into two part time jobs substantially reduces the unemployment rate, thereby assisting Our Glorious Leader's re-election efforts.
I thought they got an Obamacare waiver?
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