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Housekeeping Attendant

Other names for this job

Chambermaid
Hotel Room Cleaner
Housekeeper
Room Attendant

Word Meanings

Do you see red words on this page? Click or tap these words to learn what they mean. Or visit the Easy Reading Dictionary.

What do housekeeping attendants do?

Housekeeping attendants work in hotels and motels. They tidy and clean hallways and rooms. For example, bedrooms, bathrooms and meeting rooms. They change the sheets on the bed. They also put in clean towels and other supplies.

Meet a housekeeping attendant

Emily is a housekeeping attendant in a large hotel. She makes sure rooms are clean and healthy for guests.

Here are things that Emily does:

She vacuums carpets and mops floors.
She dusts furniture.
She makes beds. She changes sheets and other bedding.
She cleans bathrooms. She puts in soap, clean towels and other supplies.
She empties wastebaskets.
She refills the supplies on her housekeeping cart.
She changes lightbulbs.
Sometimes a hotel guest takes something from a room. She tells her supervisor.

Sometimes there are big events at the hotel. For example, a wedding. Emily and the other housekeeping attendants help clean up after the event.

Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

What is a housekeeping attendant’s work like?

Emily works an 8-hour shift. She works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. She often has to work on weekends and holidays.

She might work only in the spring, summer and fall. She might get a full-time job when she has more experience.

Emily has to stand and walk while she works. She also has to kneel and bend a lot. She has to push and pull things. For example, her housekeeping cart, a vacuum and furniture.

Sometimes she has to push, pull or lift things that can weigh up to 20 kilograms (about 45 pounds).

Do you want to be a housekeeping attendant?

You need to be healthy and strong.
You must be clean and tidy.
You must be able to understand instructions. For example, the supervisor may tell you what to do.
You must work well alone or with others.
You must respect people’s privacy. For example, don’t look at guests’ property.
You must like to use machines. For example, a vacuum cleaner and floor polisher.
You must like to do things in the same order. For example, first you change the bedding. Then you dust. Then you vacuum.

What education do housekeeping attendants need?

Housekeeping attendants learn on the job. They don’t need a high school diploma.
Some people take courses. They can get a Housekeeping Room Attendant certificate.
At some jobs, housekeeping attendants must take safety training called WHMIS. WHMIS means Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

What can housekeeping attendants do in the future?

Some housekeeping attendants may become supervisors. Supervisors may need a high school diploma.

Some housekeeping attendants get other jobs. For example, servers or hosts in restaurants.

How much does a housekeeping attendant make?

$15.00

to

$19.94

Per Hour

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

As of June 26, 2019, the minimum wage in Alberta is $15.00 per hour for most workers. For more information, see Minimum Wage.

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