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): January 26, 1999


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

                             Commission File Number:



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

(State or other jurisdiction         (Address of                 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

Issuance of News Release Regarding Results of 1998 Operations

The ServiceMaster Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), announced the
results of operations for 1998 through a news release dated January 26, 1999.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  Financial Statements:

                   1.      Consolidated    Statements    of    Income   of   The
                           ServiceMaster  Company  for the  three  months  ended
                           December  31,  1997 and 1998  and the  twelve  months
                           ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 (annexed to the News
                           Release as Exhibit 1).

                   2.      Condensed   Consolidated   Balance   sheets   of  The
                           ServiceMaster  Company as of  December  31,  1998 and
                           1997 (annexed to the News Release as Exhibit 2).

                   3.      Condensed  Consolidated  Statements  of Cash Flows of
                           The ServiceMaster Company for the twelve months ended
                           December  31,  1997  and  1998  (annexed  to the News
                           Release as Exhibit 3).

                  Exhibits:

                  1.       News Release dated January 26, 1999.


                                    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