HanesBrands Continuing Education Program Goes Virtual

HanesBrands pivots to remote learning to preserve its continuing education program for employees in Central America and the Caribbean.

The program, which has helped over 2,700 employees earn high school diplomas and nearly 200 earn college degrees, has more than 700 employees in El Salvador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic studying virtually to complete high school degrees using the public education platforms in each country.

New courses are dedicated to coping with the COVID-19 environment, and educational opportunities include an MBA program for manager-level employees.

“For more than a decade, we have successfully provided our employees one of the most sought-after resources—access to education,” says Maria Elena Sikaffy, HanesBrands’ vice president of human resources for supply chain operations in Central America and the Caribbean Basin. “In spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to invest in our employees and support their desires to enhance their personal and professional development opportunities.”

To enable remote learning, the company’s organizational development team established online support via chat, email, and video calls to help employees complete assignments, clarify concepts and make progress toward their educational goals despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The company also added specific courses related to living and working during a pandemic. These courses include Mental Health and Emotional Crisis, Creative Economy Management During Crisis, and Coaching and Leadership During COVID-19 Times.

In addition to employees seeking high school graduation opportunities, the program has more than 1,000 employees taking virtual classes and certified training courses to improve their personal and professional skills.

Courses of study include an industrial engineering certificate that covers such topics as garment manufacturing, daily management, and human resources culture. Technical and vocational certifications are offered in sewing, textile manufacturing, and Lean Six Sigma. More than 4,000 employees have earned a certification diploma through technical training programs.

For manager-level employees, the company has introduced an international MBA program, which focuses on supply-chain management. It was launched in partnership with the Euncet Business School, a center for higher education associated with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain.