Merry Maids
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Residential cleaning services |
| Founded | January 1, 1979 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Founder | Dallen Peterson and family |
| Headquarters | Memphis , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
| Products | Residential cleaning services franchises |
| Owner | ServiceMaster Brands |
Number of employees | 8000+ (2007) |
| Parent | ServiceMaster Brands |
| Website | www |
Merry Maids is a global franchisor specializing in residential cleaning services franchises throughout the United States, Canada (including Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area), and the United Kingdom. Established in 1979, the company became part of ServiceMaster in 1988. By 2007, Merry Maids had expanded to 1,400 independently operated franchises worldwide, employing more than 8,000 individuals.
Timeline
- 1979 – Dallen Peterson and his family launched the company in Omaha, Nebraska.
- 1988 – ServiceMaster Brands completed the acquisition of Merry Maids.
Labor relations
Multiple U.S.-based Merry Maids franchise operators have encountered lawsuits and regulatory actions related to breaches of labor laws. Notably, in 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a National Labor Relations Board ruling against a Boston franchisee regarding union election rights and unfair labor practices.
Safety record
The Northampton, Pennsylvania franchise was honored with a Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence in 2015 after achieving more than 1,580 consecutive days without workplace injuries and maintaining a fatality-free record over a span of 23 years.