NEW YORK — The owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster won’t bump any full-time workers down to part-time status, ­after its tests of way to limit health care costs caused a backlash that took a bite out of sales. Yet Darden Restaurants Inc. isn’t ruling out relying more heavily on part-timers.

The Orlando company was set to announce on Thursday that none of its current full-time employees will have their status changed. Darden this week lowered its profit outlook for the year, citing failed promotions and negative publicity from its tests of using more part-time employees. The tests were aimed at keeping down costs tied to new rules that will require large companies to provide health insurance to full-time workers starting in 2014.