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): March 18, 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 the Completion of LandCare Merger.

     The  ServiceMaster   Company,  a  Delaware   corporation  (the  "Company"),
announced  the  completion of the LandCare  Merger  through a news release dated
March 18, 1999.

                  Exhibit:

                  1.       News Release dated March 18, 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