Darden reviews

3.7

67% would recommend to a friend

(2,845 total reviews)

Rick Cardenas

72% approve of CEO

68% positive business outlook

Darden has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 2,845 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Darden employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
1.0
Jul 19, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The company hires some amazing people that are smart and compassionate. There are some great values if only on paper. The company has a committment to many important issues but fails to execute them effectively. There are great policies but they are not effectively managed. There is a real opportunity to leverage the culture but it's left to flounder. The people who do the work are rarely recognized other than in trivial ways. A $5.00 gift card doesn't do anything to benefit the company by having its employees go spend more money at the business. The reasons to work here are so slim and so easy refuted that it was hard to write anything substantive here.

Cons

The level of ignorance and intolerance in the company for people of color and sexual orientation is alarming. Although the company leader is African American there is an alarming amount of racism that's disturbing. The people in the organization cluster in their minority groups much like the high school cafeteria. Although departmental activities bring people together the relationships are functional and do not foster real community. Diversity is only tolerated and they have policies that have come from legal issues than out of respect for diversity. The case of firing a gay man in Illinois in 1998 was something the company fought to support. They appealed cases to keep from being held liable for blatant discrimination against gays. They participate in Diversity activities but only for show and not for real cultural evolution. The company is a place that needs it's leaders to stand up and speak out against the discrimination that occurs. This company operates with HR practices that allow discriminatory and ineffective management to flourish.

3.0
Nov 29, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Popular company so you will make okay money depending on which restaurant you are employed. Great training is given and you may get the chance to work your way up.

Cons

If you leave you better be good with the management in every way. If not (for any reason..even personal feelings), you will never be able to work at that restaurant ever again.

1.0
Jul 18, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The benefits are fairly good. Most of the coworkers were friendly and welcoming. The pay seems good if you don't consider how demanding the work is.

Cons

Only two short breaks in a 7 hour shift. The dishwashing area is horribly understaffed. Non-stop work - when the dishes pile up, be prepared to be constantly running back and forth for the next hour or so. The faux "Italian" experience - the food is not authentic Italian food at all.

Viewing 2701 - 2703 of 2,845 Reviews

Glassdoor has 2,908 Darden reviews submitted anonymously by Darden employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Darden is right for you.