Darden's Citizenship Commitment: People

What We Do Starts With People 
We are a restaurant company, so food is always top of mind. But what we do starts with people: our 150,000 employees, the nearly one million guests we serve each day and the individuals who live in the communities that are home to our restaurants. We know that if we don’t contribute to the success and well-being of the people whose lives we touch, our business won’t continue to thrive – no matter how good the food.
 
That’s why we work every day to provide meaningful and rewarding employment, deliver outstanding service and food to our guests and give back to our local communities.

More at https://www.darden.com/citizenship/people

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Content from this campaign

Diversity & Inclusion

Finding a Home at Olive Garden
Ian Nason persevered through homelessness and a difficult upbringing to achieve new heights as Director of Operations for Olive Garden.

Diversity & Inclusion

Tragedy Spurs LongHorn Steakhouse Team to Open Hearts and Wallets
Every member of the LongHorn Steakhouse team in Cartersville, GA, contributes to Darden Dimes, an emergency assistance program for employees, inspired by Managing Partner Patricia France’s tragic tale.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life — Kathryn Graham of Olive Garden
For some of Darden team members, creating great dining experiences for our guests is so fulfilling that it becomes their life’s work. Today we hear from one of our longtime team members whose years of achievement inspire us all.

Diversity & Inclusion

Emerging Leaders of Olive Garden | Sean Wallin
I’ve just celebrated my 10-year anniversary. I started at the Olive Garden in Boise, ID, as a busser, and I was still working at that same restaurant until days ago. Now I’m headed to the Kennewick, WA, Olive Garden to work as a service manager.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life | Patricia Anderson of Olive Garden
For some of our team members, creating great dining experiences for our guests is so fulfilling that it becomes their life’s work. Today we hear from one of our longtime team members whose years of achievement inspire us all. Host Patricia Anderson, a 34-year Darden team member in Tucson, AZ, says Olive Garden has been accommodating, allowing her to keep working despite health challenges.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life | Kim Basham of LongHorn Steakhouse
I’ve been with Darden 25 years in June. For the last 17 of those years, I’ve been a bartender and server at the LongHorn Steakhouse on Eastgate North Drive in Cincinnati, OH. I was one of the first employees hired when the restaurant opened. My team members tease me by saying that the building was built around me

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life | Diane Eslinger of Olive Garden
Team members are the backbone of our restaurants. For some of them, creating great dining experiences for our guests is so fulfilling that it becomes their life’s work. Olive Garden Server Diane Eslinger who celebrated her 35th anniversary with Darden recently has a large group of regular guests and has been named salesperson of the month multiple times, said General Manager Kelly Lynch.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life | Shirley Wells of Olive Garden
For some of our team members, creating great dining experiences for our guests is so fulfilling that it becomes their life’s work. Today we hear from Shirley Wells, a 35-year Darden team member, has been a cook at the Olive Garden in Springfield, IL, for 21 years. She was honored with a culinary trip to Italy in 2006.

Diversity & Inclusion

FACES of Olive Garden | Chris Wayne
At Olive Garden, our team members serve as the faces of our brand and ambassadors of our core values. They make an impression on every guest who walks through our front doors, delivering great food, an engaging atmosphere and unmatched service. We are strong and successful because of our people, each with diverse talents and backgrounds, who respect each other and enjoy working side by side to serve our guests and communities.

Diversity & Inclusion

FACES of Olive Garden | Jenifer French
Meet Jenifer French, director of operations for Olive Garden’s Houston division, who leads nine restaurant teams and 1,000 people.

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