SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20547



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



        Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): February 25, 1998



                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate)

                         Commission File Number: 1-14762




Delaware                            One ServiceMaster Way             36-3858106
                                    Downers Grove, IL 60515

(State or other jurisdiction        (Address of principal       (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   executive office)        Identification No.)







Registrant's telephone number, including area code:              (630)  271-1300





Item 5.           Other Events

         On  July  28,  1997,  the  ServiceMaster  Company  (formerly  known  as
ServiceMaster   Incorporated  of  Delaware)  (the  "Company")   filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") a registration  statement
on Form S-3 (File No. 333-32167) (the "Registration  Statement"),  as amended by
Amendment  No. 1 to the  Registration  Statement  filed with the  Commission  on
August 6, 1997,  relating to the registration  under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, of up to $950,000,000  aggregate offering price of the securities of
the Company  identified  therein,  which  Registration  Statement  was  declared
effective on August 6, 1997.

         On  February  25,  1998,  the  Company  entered  into  an  Underwriting
Agreement (the  "Underwriting  Agreement")  with J. P. Morgan  Securities  Inc.,
Goldman,  Sachs & Co.,  BancAmerica  Robertson  Stephens,  First Chicago Capital
Markets, Inc. and NationsBanc  Montgomery Securities L.L.C.  (collectively,  the
"Underwriters"),  referenced  as  Exhibit  1.1  to  the  Company's  Registration
Statement,  pursuant to which the Company  agreed to issue and sell $150 million
aggregate  principal  amount of 7.10% Notes due 2018 and $150 million  aggregate
principal  amount  of 7.25%  Notes due 2038  (collectively,  the  "Notes").  The
Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1.

         The forms of the Notes are attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2.


Item 7.           Financial  Statements and Exhibits

                  7(c)     Exhibits.

                           1.1      Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February
                                    25, 1998, between the Company and J. P.
                                    Morgan Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs &
                                    Co., BancAmerica Robertson Stephens, First
                                    Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. and
                                    NationsBanc Montgomery Securities L.L.C.

                           4.1      Form of 7.10% Note due March 1, 2018.

                           4.2      Form of 7.25% Note due March 1, 2038.

                           4.3      Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of
                                    March 2, 1998.



                                            Signature

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                               THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                               (Registrant)


                               By:      /s/ Vernon T. Squires
                                        Sr. Vice President and General Counsel

Dated:  February 26, 1998