Report: Amazon could ‘clean up’ with new house cleaning service
Amazon is offering a new category to its shoppers — house cleaning.
The online giant is quietly hiring house cleaners in Seattle as direct employees. These new employees are part of a trial that Amazon is pursuing to gain a more direct foothold in the $16 billion housekeeping industry, according to Bloomberg.
Called Amazon Home Assistants, the service is available to customers in Seattle, and takes on tasks ranging from house cleaning to taking out the trash, doing laundry and cleaning dishes. All house cleaners are trained Amazon employees who use eco-friendly and kid safe cleaning products that are rated four stars and above on Amazon. The online retailer also offers a satisfaction guarantee that promises to resolve any issues that may arise during a service, according to Amazon’s website.
The program is not Amazon’s first foray into the housekeeping business. In 2015, the online giant launched its Amazon Home Services marketplace, which connects independent contractors with customers in need of services, from handymen and landscapers to house cleaners.
The hundreds of services offered combined represents a $600 billion market. However, due to sluggish growth, Amazon decided revisit the plan and bring on housekeepers as direct employees, according to Bloomberg.
By putting these employees in its payroll, Amazon is now on the hook for minimum wage, workers compensation and overtime pay. However, it also gives the company control over how the workers are trained, which cleaning products they use, and how they organize their schedules, according to the report.
The test could also help Amazon create other internal teams across other service-oriented categories, such as home improvement, and the installation of electronics.
The online giant is quietly hiring house cleaners in Seattle as direct employees. These new employees are part of a trial that Amazon is pursuing to gain a more direct foothold in the $16 billion housekeeping industry, according to Bloomberg.
Called Amazon Home Assistants, the service is available to customers in Seattle, and takes on tasks ranging from house cleaning to taking out the trash, doing laundry and cleaning dishes. All house cleaners are trained Amazon employees who use eco-friendly and kid safe cleaning products that are rated four stars and above on Amazon. The online retailer also offers a satisfaction guarantee that promises to resolve any issues that may arise during a service, according to Amazon’s website.
The program is not Amazon’s first foray into the housekeeping business. In 2015, the online giant launched its Amazon Home Services marketplace, which connects independent contractors with customers in need of services, from handymen and landscapers to house cleaners.
The hundreds of services offered combined represents a $600 billion market. However, due to sluggish growth, Amazon decided revisit the plan and bring on housekeepers as direct employees, according to Bloomberg.
By putting these employees in its payroll, Amazon is now on the hook for minimum wage, workers compensation and overtime pay. However, it also gives the company control over how the workers are trained, which cleaning products they use, and how they organize their schedules, according to the report.
The test could also help Amazon create other internal teams across other service-oriented categories, such as home improvement, and the installation of electronics.