Restaurant chains to cut workers' hours in response to health law

The company that owns the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants backed down Thursday from its plan to cut employees' hours in response to President Obama's healthcare law. Darden Restaurants—one of several restaurant firms embroiled in political controversy over employees' healthcare benefits—said Thursday it will not follow through with plans to cut workers' hours. "None of Darden's current full-time employees, hourly or salaried, will have their full-time status changed as a result of healthcare reform," the company said in a statement.