When we first learned about Olive Garden's intention to shut down all of its 900 stores for 24 hours, we panicked. Was the news a signal of more permanent shutterings to come? Alas: the temporary closure is the company's way to help all employees (deservedly!) celebrate the holidays.
That’s right: the beloved Italian restaurant chain is going to close all of its doors on both Thanksgiving and Christmas to “allow [...] team members to spend time with their family and friends. Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and International holiday hours may vary by location,” according to an official statement.
What's more, Olive Garden also acknowledged that a fair amount of holiday prep happens the day before families actually get together.
“Depending on the amount of business on the day before these holidays, the restaurants may close early,” reads the statement. “We leave this decision to the discretion of the management team. Please contact the restaurant directly for the scheduled closing time the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve.”
This isn't the first time that Olive Garden was praised for its devotion to employees. Darden Restaurants, the chain's parent company, has, in fact, rolled out a number of employee-friendly initiatives throughout the years. In March 2021, for example, Darden announced that every hourly worker would earn at least $10 per hour, including tips, rising to $11 in 2022 and $12 in 2023—and even awarded one‐time bonuses totaling $17 million to hourly staff. Talk about a refreshing commitment to putting employees first.