Starbucks Corp. plans to spend $250 million on new employee benefits, including a pay boost fordomestic workers, in the wake of the federal tax overhaul.

The coffee chain will increase pay for its 150,000 U.S. hourlyand salaried employees in April, following its regular annual raiseearlier this month. It’s also taking its paid-sick time benefit national, allowingworkers to save up time off to use for themselves or family,Seattle-based Starbucks said on Wednesday.

Starbucks becomes the latest U.S. company to pledge a portion ofits federal tax-cut windfall to employees, which the coffee giantcalls “partners.” Apple Inc. said earlier this month that it’s giving most of its staff a$2,500 bonus. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., meanwhile, plans to hikeits starting wage to $11 an hour and give out $400 million inone-time bonuses.

“Investing in our partners has long been our strategy,”Starbucks Chief Executive Officer Kevin Johnson said in a memo toemployees. “Due to the recent changes in U.S. tax law, we are ableto accelerate some significant partner investments.”

Unlike Wal-Mart, Starbucks isn’t touting a new starting wage.The coffee giant says the new level will vary by region, and italready pays more than the minimum wage in all 50 states.

Starbucks also has been investing in mobile technology to fixcongestion at pickup counters in the U.S., where sales have struggled to keep pace withinternational growth. The company is slated to give investors anupdate on its progress when it reports earnings on Thursday.

The employee changes come after Starbucks hired Aon to compareits benefits with similar companies. The analysis found that thecoffee company could improve its sick-time policies. Starbucks alsois giving an extra 2018 stock grant to U.S. employees, and willexpand parental leave to include non-birth parents.

Copyright 2018 Bloomberg. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,or redistributed.