Bad publicity over Obamacare stance sinks earnings of Olive Garden, Red Lobster parent

[Newsjock]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Darden Restaurants Inc. won’t be looking as good as expected next week when the restaurant company is set to release its second-quarter earnings, it said Tuesday.

The Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse parent lowered its profit and revenue projections for the quarter ended Nov. 25, blaming sour promotions in its eateries, Superstorm Sandy, its purchase of the Yard House USA chain and even its efforts to mitigate the coming costs of healthcare reform, also known as "Obamacare."

... The company’s “cautious” outlook also reflects the impact “of negative media coverage that focused on Darden…and how we might accommodate healthcare reform.”

Earlier in the fall, Darden tested plans to cut back on healthcare costs by putting more workers on part-time schedules. President Obama’s healthcare law would slap Darden and other large companies with fines unless they offer basic health insurance for full-time workers.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-olive-garden-darden-obamacare-20121204,0,6293689.story

[graham4anything]

1. The peaceful revolution won in 2008 and ratified in 2012 continues

If one has alternatives, one can pick the better of two choices
And force the bad choice to become a good choice
Usually when there are chains around, there are many chains.

And their hatred of "Obamacare&quot which is a good word, not a bad one anyhow and our President has used it as a good word) is totally backward.

And I must say- I love the LongHorn (first finding it in Nashville, now its up here in NJ) and the Olive Garden too. But I have not been to either since this happened.

If I were to eat there, I would think a good way is to possibly attempt to give the server, busperson and the ones in the kitchen a direct cash tip and tell them not to tell the owners so the owners can't get a share.
And possibly, if you eat there, cut something out that the owners make a good profit on, and ask for more salad and bread sticks at the Olive Garden. It is unlimited.

you can put any not finished in your doggy bag you go home with

At the longhorn, as for an extra bread and do same as above.

[slogan057]

2. Don't Mess With Worker's Rights

Papa John Learned That Very Fast.

[tsuki]

3. I am old enough to remember when the rest of the industrialize

nations were going to single payer. Oh Noes, said Corporate America. Business can do it sooooo much cheaper. Busness can do it soooo much better. Government will just be baaaaadddd.

It is past time for Corporate America to pony up.

No tears here.

[Puzzledtraveller]

4. I doubt that's the reason, people can give a rats ass when they go to an Olive Garden or Red Lobster

Myabe the food just sucks.

[HockeyMom]

5. Never alienate your customers

who will identify far more with Mary your watiress or Joe your cook, rather than YOU the CEO.

[BlueStreak]

6. The biggest problem, is that they think they can get away with forcing employees to part-time status

That is the problem we should be attacking, and that is one of full employment - aka stimulus.

If we had 5% unemployment, companies like Darden wouldn't be in a position to force full-time workers to take part time pay.

If we had full employment, employers would be wetting their pants promoting the fact that they DO provide health care for their employees.

Theissue is full employment. As long as the Republicans can keep us around 8%, employers hold all the cards. And that is exactly why the Republicans have fought every attempt by Obama to stimulate the economy.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Now where will smokers breastfeed their gun-toting pitbulls?

This could be a problem.

[JoePhilly]

8. I won't eat in a place where the workers might be sick and have no access to health care.

I'd prefer that the workers not pass their illness on to me and my family.

So give your employees descent healthcare, and I'll eat at your establishment.

Fight against that, and I will never walk through your doors.