Whether it’s in hotels, healthcare facilities or other locations, housekeepers play a crucial role in maintaining safety and cleanliness. So, how do you hire housekeepers or other cleaning crew members who you can depend on to get the job done right? PeopleReady offers expert tips for your housekeeper staffing process so you can find — and keep! — the perfect candidates for the job.

How to hire housekeepers who will stay committed to the job

Successful staffing for housekeepers takes time and planning. Here are some valuable tips to aid in your search for the right candidates:

Write a clear job description

General job postings for “housekeepers,” “janitors” or “cleaning crew members” can attract plenty of applicants, but they may not be the best fit for your open roles. On the other hand, more detailed job postings help ensure that only the right candidates apply, making your hiring process faster and easier.

The first step is to outline the duties and responsibilities for each of your open roles. Be sure to note the expected work hours along with any standards for performance. With these details documented, you’ll be ready to proceed with the hiring process and find the ideal candidates for your team.

Ask the right interview questions

Asking the right interview questions is the best way to ensure that the housekeepers you hire have the right skills and a strong work ethic. During our interviews with job candidates, these are some of the questions we might ask:

• What is your previous housekeeping or cleaning experience?
• What cleaning supplies and equipment are you familiar with using?
• Have you ever encountered a challenging cleaning situation, and what did you do to handle it?
• How do you stay positive and motivated on the job?
• How do you stay organized in your work?
• What do you do to ensure safety on the job?
• Can you share an example of a time when you provided great service to a client or guest?

Keep your commitment to safety at all times

Safety is a shared responsibility between you and your employees. You can demonstrate your dedication to their well-being by promoting safety in your job postings, interviews and day-to-day conversations. This guarantees a safe workplace and helps create a positive environment. In fact, Forbes notes that companies with a strong safety culture tend to have happier employees and reduced turnover rates.

Your housekeepers and cleaning workers also need to have a solid understanding of safety protocols and be dedicated to upholding your cleaning and safety standards. Ensuring their awareness and adherence to safety measures is crucial for creating a secure environment for everyone.

Promote a positive and friendly work environment

Housekeeper and other facility services jobs tend to have high turnover rates due to the physical demands and long hours required. Frequent turnover can negatively impact your services by leaving you understaffed too often.

Acknowledging and rewarding your workers can help maintain the high quality of service that your guests expect. So, what are some of the best ways to show appreciation for your housekeepers or other cleaning crew members? Some incentives that you might consider include gift cards, flexible schedules or free access to your amenities.

Discover more expert tips on hiring housekeepers and other cleaning crew in our recent article.

Qualities to look for in applicants for housekeeper jobs

There are several key qualities we suggest you look for when you search for workers who can meet your specific needs. Here are the essential skills and qualities we prioritize when we help employers with their housekeeping staffing efforts:

Communication skills

Your housekeepers will often need to work together with their managers and other team members to get the job done. At times, they may also interact with your guests or others on site. Clear communication makes all aspects of the job easier and ensures that any issues are resolved promptly.

Consistency and reliability

Having reliable housekeepers is crucial in any work setting. That means being on time, following your specific dress code requirements and completing tasks on schedule to meet your standards and deadlines.

Attention to detail

Your housekeepers must have strong attention to detail to perform their duties well. This includes tasks such as cleaning countertops, folding linens and ensuring all items are put back in the right place. It’s important for housekeepers to report any maintenance issues they encounter during their shift as well.

A strong commitment to safety

Safety should be a top priority for your workers. In order to create a safe work environment and reduce the risk of accidents, housekeepers should have knowledge of proper cleaning methods, including how to use different cleaning tools and products.

Want to know more about what we look for in cleaning and housekeeping workers? Check out our guide for facility services staffing.

The one solution for hiring housekeepers who are ready to succeed

When it comes to hiring housekeepers, working with a staffing agency can produce great results. Here are just some of the ways they can take care of your housekeeper staffing needs:

Convenient access to job seekers looking for housekeeper jobs

Staffing agencies boost your housekeeper staffing efforts by providing next-level local support. Their team often has strong relationships with jobs organizations, schools and other groups in your community, and they understand your local market well. Plus, they can use social media and other recruitment channels to connect with local job seekers.

Less administrative burden when hiring housekeepers or cleaning workers

Hiring housekeepers or any other cleaning workers requires a wide range of administrative and support tasks. A housekeeping staffing agency can save you some hassle by handling payroll, tax reporting duties and other key responsibilities. That way, you’ll have time to focus on other important aspects of your business.

Housekeeper recruitment with a focus on safety and compliance

A housekeeper staffing agency can assist in ensuring compliance and avoiding misclassification issues by thoroughly vetting candidates and ensuring they meet legal employment criteria. They also provide ongoing training to uphold safety standards and protocols, ensuring the well-being of both workers and guests. By relying on their expertise, you can maintain regulatory compliance while creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Flexible housekeeper hiring solutions

Whether you require short-term workers during your busy season or extra help for a special cleaning project, a housekeeping staffing agency makes it easier to hire workers when and how they’re needed most. They can scale your workforce up or down depending on your particular needs. Their staffing solutions ensure you have the right level of coverage at all times.

Customized long-term housekeeper staffing plans

The ideal housekeeping staffing agency has teams with years of experience staffing for facility services, hospitality or related fields. These staffing experts can work with you to create a housekeeper staffing plan that accounts for your specific location, services and other factors. Their staffing plans are built to meet your short- and long-term needs, so you’ll have access to reliable workers at all times.

For more on partnering with a housekeeper staffing agency to meet your facility services staffing needs, see all the benefits in this article!

PeopleReady supports all your housekeeping and cleaning staffing needs

PeopleReady offers housekeeper staffing, janitorial staffing and custodial staffing solutions that are customized to your specific needs. We serve hundreds of communities throughout the U.S. so that you have convenient access to workers at all times. Plus, you can enjoy all the benefits of our JobStack app, which puts a reliable workforce in place when and where you need it.

We also have facility services staffing experts available to help you find workers for your hotel, resort, healthcare facility or event venue. For example, we can help you:

• Hire janitors
• Hire housekeepers
• Hire laundry attendants
• Hire custodians
• Hire cleaning crew members
• And more!

So, if you’re wondering, “Is there a housekeeping hiring agency near me?” check out our locations page to get started.