HanesBrands To Require Vaccinations As A Return To In-Person Work Looms

One of Forsyth County's largest employers will require COVID-19 vaccinations before returning to in-person work in October.

Officials at HanesBrands say health is their main concern when its corporate offices reopen, and the best way to ensure a safe return is for employees to get their shots.

The company is planning for the majority of its U.S. associates to go back to their offices on Oct. 18. The timeline could change based on how the pandemic is trending.

The apparel manufacturer is headquartered in Winston-Salem. In announcing the vaccination policy, HanesBrands says it has also developed a confidential exemption process for workers who are avoiding the shot for medical or religious reasons. 

HanesBrands is one of the largest employers in Forsyth County with an estimated local workforce of about 2,400 people, according to the economic development organization Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.