The McDonald’s Corporation announced Thursday it will triple its tuition assistance for restaurant employees citing the passage of tax reform in December.
The company plans to expand its 3-year-old education benefits program “Archways to Opportunity” with an additional $150 million over the next five years and will lower the eligibility requirements from nine months to 90 days of employment to allow nearly 400,000 U.S. employees access to the program.
The Archways to Opportunity program, which launched in 2015, grants assistance to U.S. employees to earn a high school diploma, receive college tuition assistance upfront, access free education advising services and learn English.
“By offering restaurant employees more opportunities to further their education and pursue their career aspirations, we are helping them find their full potential, whether that’s at McDonald’s or elsewhere,” said McDonald’s President and CEO Steve Easterbrook in a company press release.
McDonald’s is far from the only company doling out benefits to employees in the wake of tax reform. Other chains including Starbucks have provided new job benefits, employee raises, and thousands of new jobs citing the new tax law.
The tax law however, has not been without criticism.
Democrats have targeted the Republican tax bill as granting disproportionate benefits to corporations and high earners while arguing those at the bottom of the economic letter are receiving relatively little.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi attacked the tax bill after its passage, labeling the benefits received by most Americans as “crumbs” in the form of new benefits and raises from companies.
