Red Lobster Fears Diner Backlash From Anti-Obamacare Stance

[jsr]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100276478

Red Lobster Fears Diner Backlash From Anti-Obamacare Stance

Darden Restaurants, owner of Red Lobster and Olive Garden, fears a backlash from customers angry about its efforts to convert more workers into part-time positions so it can avoid paying for their health care.

How concerned is the chain? So much so that the world's largest full-service restaurant company used a veiled reference to this possible boycott as partly to blame for its lowered 2013 forecast.

"Our outlook for the year also reflects the potential impact, though difficult to measure, of recent negative media coverage that focused on Darden within the full-service segment and how we might accommodate healthcare reform," said Clarence Otis, Darden CEO, in Tuesday's news release.

The company started running a test program to limit more workers' hours to under 30 per week in certain markets. This would lower costs for Darden in 2014, when the new health care bill will require companies to provide benefits to all full-time employees....

[obamanut2012]

1. I don't eat there anyway, but my parents will no lonnger eat at Olive Garden

Because of the ACA thing. They are owned by the same company.

[tabasco]

2. All these suck-ass businesses with shitty products

are going to blame the health care law for all their problems.

BRILLIANT!

[Populist_Prole]

12. Really! It's almost like the food itself is just a byproduct of their brand-driven profit unit

I half expect Omaha Steaks change their name to 'Omaha Sizzle'

Why don't they just all merge and become 'FoodCo' already?

[peacebird]

3. Red Lobster sucks, but it's a pity about Olive Garden. My 84 y.o. Mom loves that place.

[niyad]

4. let me understand something--they KNOW that this stupid stance of reducing workers' hours in

response to ACA is going to cut into their profits even though they are supposedly cutting hours to keep their profit margin healthy--am I missing something, or is this completely contradictory?

I mean, if I were the ceo, and I KNEW that a policy was going to piss off my customers and cost me their money, I would be hard pressed to justify that policy to my shareholders.

just so you know, otis, your stupid, arrogant, ignorant proposed policy has cost you my business, because I will not give my custom to ANY business that screws its employees instead of following the law. oh, by the way, I have the recipe for the cheddar cheese biscuits, so I won't even be depriving myself of them by boycotting red lobster.

[Downwinder]

5. Tell them not to worry. I wrote them off long ago.

[lonestarnot]

6. I wouldn't eat their shit if they paid me.

[CatWoman]

7. I'm surprised Red Lobster is still in business

that chain is just plain shitty. The food is overpriced, over cooked and well, just plain shitty. Their only saving grace is the cheddar biscuits.

[AlinPA]

8. Exactly! (agree on the biscuits)

[qanda]

9. They all but ruined my last birthday

I only went there because I share a birthday with my goddaughter and she wanted to eat there but long story short is that I never received my food. They have the worst service of any restaurant that I have ever been to and their food is very close to the worst. Oh well, I guess it's best that I didn't get my food. I won't be eating there again.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. I'm allergic to shellfish.

and I would imagine that their regular bony fish is just as gross as the rest of their menu.

[DollarBillHines]

11. They ought to be worried about their crappy menu

I hope Darden follows Hostess down the rat-hole.

[derby378]

13. Wow - my local Red Lobster has always come through for me

Excellent seafood and coleslaw, and the Cheddar Bay biscuits aren't bad, either.

I hate to tell you guys, but Republicans control the majority of supermarket and restaurant chains in America. I know the Dems have Sonic (for starters,) but in some parts of America, if you don't buy food from a Republican, you starve.

[Glitterati]

14. They should. I refused to go to any of them last night

I told the teenagers they could pick a place for dinner last night. Just not these restaurants, nor Applebees. As long as they continue to screw workers, they will NOT get a dime from me.

And, the kids clearly understood why.

[RagAss]

15. I wouldn't eat that shit anyway.

Tried them both once...never again.

[Omaha Steve]

16. Guess who buys more sea food from Canada than any other company?

[DaniDubois]

17. I won't be going there.