A low-tech innovation and its positive impact upon housekeeping in hotel staff

The Duvetlifter is a low-tech bed-making tool that was developed to assist housekeeping staff so that beds in hotels could be changed with less physical stress for the hotels’ employees. In this research, we investigate the effectiveness of the tool and learn about how it can improve operations and increase the quality of life of housekeeping staff. To learn about the tool’s effectiveness and impact upon the employees, eight housekeeping staff members of a five-star Amsterdam hotel used the tool in their workplace and reported various aspects of occupational health and stress experienced. In addition, the employees were observed using the tool in their workplace. Finally, the executive housekeeper of the hotel was interviewed to learn about how they understand the tool had been effective in supporting the staff’s tasks at work. The findings illustrate that the housekeeping staff experience substantial stress and health issues caused by their occupations. The findings also reveal that several of the employees reported the benefits that they experienced by using the tool and that they could make some suggestions to how to improve the tool in their occupational setting. However, in some ways the tool may increase stress and anxiety, as it takes somewhat longer to change a bed. The trade-off between employee well-being and efficiency is an issue management will have to contend with.