Hotel workers in California face a much higher on-the-job injury risk than employees in all other service-industry positions. Hotel housekeepers, especially, face elevated injury risks. The role of the hotel housekeeper is a physically demanding one, and many of the injuries suffered by hotel housekeepers have a serious, long-term impact on a worker’s quality of life.
According to UNITE HERE, research shows that hotel workers face an injury rate that is 40% higher than that of other service-sector workers. However, the injury rates seen by housekeepers, and Hispanic and female hotel housekeepers, especially, are much higher.
How common aches and pains are in the industry
A survey of about 600 American hotel housekeepers across the United States and Canada revealed that more than 90% of them have experienced pain directly related to their positions. Almost 80% of those surveyed said their pain was severe enough to interfere with their day-to-day lives, while more than 65% reported having to take pain medication to get through the workday.
How often female and Hispanic hotel housekeepers suffer injuries
Injury rates are even higher among female and Hispanic hotel housekeepers. The injury rate among women who clean hotel rooms is 50% higher than that of all hotel workers. Among Hispanic hotel housekeepers, the injury rate is 10.6 for every 100,000 full-time workers. This means this population is twice as likely as white hotel housekeepers to suffer work-related injuries.
Many of the injury risks faced by hotel housekeepers involve heavy lifting, which might involve moving furniture, mattresses or decorative items, among other examples. There is also a high pace of work in many hospitality environments, which also exacerbates injury risks.