Restaurant Chain Backs Off on Slashing Worker Hours

All employees will have the same health care access

After taking heat for suggesting it would cut restaurant workers' hours to avoid having to give them health insurance under Obamacare, Darden restaurants announced a change of heart Thursday: It won't switch anyone's status to part time.

The restaurant chain also said it will offer all full-time employees — whether they're hourly workers or executives — access to the same health plans.

"None of Darden's current full-time employees, hourly or salaried, will have their full-time status changed as a result of health care reform," it said in a statement describing policy through 2014. "In 2014, all of Darden's full-time employees, including hourly, salaried and executive employees, will have access to the same insurance plan coverage."