Laundry Worker: Job Description, Opportunities, Skills, Duties and Salary
Submitted by: paula
JOB OVERVIEW Laundry workers are of many types and have varied roles in a laundry shop. They may clean and wash garments or clothes and linens as well as press them so that they will be prepared for client's usage. The stuffs being washed are not confined to the wearable ones and linens, these also include linens, curtain, rags, and articles that are made of either natural such as cotton, as well as synthetic fibers. The clients of the laundry workers range from individual clients to group of people like dorm tenants and families as well as industries and companies such as hotels, schools, hospitals and other offices. In a small time laundry plant or shops, one worker may be tasked to perform different laundry processes and tasks as compared to the ones working in a larger plant wherein division of labor is implemented such that one task is assigned to one laundry worker.
EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND TRAININGS REQUIRED
In most shops, laundry and dry cleaning workers develop and hone thier skills within the job training. It is not hard to learn the skills in dry cleaning as well as doing laundry as it is mostly an everyday activity that people do within the household. In many laundry shops, not unless applying for an administrative position, the requirement is simply a high school diploma or an equivalent of it. The knowledge should range from the different types of fabrics, techniques in taking care of each, beaching, dry cleaning, as well as pressing. Knowing how to operate laundry machines and iron should which are now mostly automated should be one of the requirement in passing hte on the job training, more especially that most of the shops use computers in their equipment. However, there are trainings also that can be taken outside the employment scene. The International Fabricare Institute and the National Cleaners Association, which runs the New York School of Dry Cleaning, offer several related courses as well as learning seminars to help workers learn updated and new skills and techniques in the laundry industry.
ABILITIES AND SKILLS
The skills and abilities needed are as follows: manual skills, critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to stand long hours of repetitive labor and dirts within the fabrics.
Workers need to be able to know how to operate laundry machines, such as the washing machines, dry cleaning machines, and the different types of iron for pressing. It is a must that before washing, the workers are able to distinguish between the washable with water and those that are not advisable to be washed by machine but by hands. Also equally important are the skills with the use of the different chemicals to remove stains and specific dirt. Lastly, patience is a good attitude as the work may be tiring and very routinary everyday of the job.
DUTIES
The laundry washers, dry cleaners, presser,or collectively, laundry workers responsibilities vary greatly depending on the type of laundry plant, shop or company and its size as well as the facilities being used by the employers. Duties can range from managerial as managers, laundry clerk as well as the delivery driver to working on the laundry process itself.
JOB OUTLOOK AND EARNINGS
Gerenally, the entry-level pay for laundry workers is not high and is estimated to be just above the minimum wage. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median hourly salary of a laundry worker in the UNited States is just about $8.34. This hourly wage when computed, will point to a yearly earnings of around $17,350 for full-time work position. The salary range is however from $12,810 to more than $25,370. depending on the state of practice and the emplyer as well as the years of experience rendered. As many of the machines for laundry are being developed for home use, it is predicted by the U.S. Department of Labor that the overall employment of textile, apparel, and furnishing workers , including the laundry workers will decline until the year 2014. As of today, there are more or less over 216,000 people who are employed nationwide in this type of industry.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of the opportunities and trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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