Robert Half International (RHI) 10-K 12 Feb 21 2020 FY Annual report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-10427
Entity Registrant Name	ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-1648752
Entity Address, Address Line One	2884 Sand Hill Road
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Menlo Park
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94025
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	234-6000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, Par Value $.001 per Share
Trading Symbol	RHI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 5,876,880,362
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		113,124,854
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders in connection with the registrant’s annual meeting of stockholders, scheduled to be held in May 2021, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report. Except as expressly incorporated by reference, the registrant’s Proxy Statement shall not be deemed to be part of this report.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000315213
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31

Consolidated Statements of Fina

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 574,426	$ 270,478
Accounts receivable, net	714,163	832,797
Employee deferred compensation trust assets	406,634	398,442
Other current assets	147,515	127,132
Total current assets	1,842,738	1,628,849
Property and equipment, net	109,817	128,385
Right-of-use assets	262,688	241,029
Other intangible assets, net	5,594	1,752
Goodwill	223,055	210,364
Noncurrent deferred income taxes	113,532	101,029
Total assets	2,557,424	2,311,408
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	130,770	123,841
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	397,877	322,404
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	435,121	421,198
Income taxes payable	4,015	1,623
Notes payable, current	239	218
Current operating lease liabilities	78,604	71,408
Total current liabilities	1,046,626	940,692
Notes payable, less current portion	0	239
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	223,869	201,961
Other liabilities	81,640	24,833
Total liabilities	1,352,135	1,167,725
Commitments and Contingencies (Note L)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 260,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 113,127,501 and 115,120,404 shares	113	115
Additional paid-in capital	1,179,972	1,127,487
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,732)	(19,986)
Retained earnings	29,936	36,067
Total stockholders’ equity	1,205,289	1,143,683
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 2,557,424	$ 2,311,408

Consolidated Statements of Fi_2

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	260,000,000	260,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	113,127,501	115,120,404
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	113,127,501	115,120,404

Consolidated Statements of Oper

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 5,109,000	$ 6,074,432	$ 5,800,271
Costs of services	3,096,389	3,549,303	3,389,259
Gross margin	2,012,611	2,525,129	2,411,012
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,666,041	1,958,295	1,810,601
(Income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (which is completely offset by related costs and expenses - Notes A & I)	(75,188)	(54,917)	11,486
Amortization of intangible assets	1,219	1,361	1,705
Interest income, net	(1,343)	(5,125)	(4,382)
Income before income taxes	421,882	625,515	591,602
Provision for income taxes	115,606	171,082	157,314
Net income	$ 306,276	$ 454,433	$ 434,288
Net income per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 2.72	$ 3.93	$ 3.60
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 2.70	$ 3.90	$ 3.57
Shares:
Basic (in shares)	112,729	115,656	120,513
Diluted (in shares)	113,318	116,411	121,602
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.36	$ 1.24	$ 1.12

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
Net income	$ 306,276	$ 454,433	$ 434,288
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	18,973	(1,553)	(19,616)
Foreign defined benefit plans, net of tax	(3,719)	(2,324)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	15,254	(3,877)	(19,616)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 321,530	$ 450,556	$ 414,672

Consolidated Statements of Stoc

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Retained EarningsCumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	$ 1,105,265		$ 124	$ 1,064,601	$ 3,507	$ 37,033
Balance at beginning of period, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			124,261
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	1,105,265		$ 124	1,064,601	3,507	37,033
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	434,288					434,288
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	1,063,198		$ 119	1,079,188	(16,109)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19,616)				(19,616)
Dividends declared	(136,824)			(30,365)		(106,459)
Net issuances of restricted stock (in shares)			666
Net issuances of restricted stock	0		$ 1	(1)
Stock-based compensation	44,953			44,953
Repurchases of common stock, (in shares)			(5,849)
Repurchases of common stock	(364,868)		$ (6)			(364,862)
Balance at end of period, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			119,078
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,063,198		$ 119	1,079,188	(16,109)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.12
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	$ 1,063,198		119	1,079,188	(16,109)	0
Net income	454,433					454,433
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	1,063,198		$ 115	1,127,487	(19,986)	36,067	$ (558)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,877)				(3,877)
Dividends declared	(145,726)					(145,726)
Net issuances of restricted stock (in shares)			647
Net issuances of restricted stock	0		$ 1	(1)
Stock-based compensation	48,300			48,300
Repurchases of common stock, (in shares)			(4,605)
Repurchases of common stock	(272,645)		$ (5)			(272,640)
Balance at end of period, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			115,120
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,143,683		$ 115	1,127,487	(19,986)	36,067	(558)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.24
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	$ 1,143,683		115	1,127,487	(19,986)	36,067	(558)
Net income	306,276					306,276
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	1,143,683	$ (558)	$ 113	1,179,972	(4,732)	29,936	$ (558)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	15,254				15,254
Dividends declared	(156,045)					(156,045)
Net issuances of restricted stock (in shares)			879
Net issuances of restricted stock	0		$ 1	(1)
Stock-based compensation	52,486			52,486
Repurchases of common stock, (in shares)			(2,871)
Repurchases of common stock	(155,807)		$ (3)			(155,804)
Balance at end of period, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			113,128
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,205,289	(558)	$ 113	1,179,972	(4,732)	29,936
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.36
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	$ 1,205,289	$ (558)	$ 113	$ 1,179,972	$ (4,732)	$ 29,936

Consolidated Statements of St_2

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.36	$ 1.24	$ 1.12

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 306,276	$ 454,433	$ 434,288
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Allowance for credit losses	4,200	9,868	11,914
Depreciation	62,281	64,264	64,244
Amortization of cloud computing implementation costs	18,399	3,624	0
Amortization of intangible assets	1,219	1,361	1,705
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts	(66,866)	(44,492)	22,343
Stock-based compensation	52,486	48,300	44,953
Deferred income taxes	(13,146)	(9,473)	(15,885)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	127,740	(48,461)	(86,217)
Capitalized cloud computing implementation costs	(33,178)	(30,338)	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,098	(9,204)	32,428
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	119,231	17,705	13,845
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	13,923	87,670	21,099
Income taxes payable	182	(18,798)	28,900
Other assets and liabilities, net	2,683	(6,830)	(1,295)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	596,528	519,629	572,322
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(33,377)	(59,464)	(42,484)
Investments in employee deferred compensation trusts	(64,351)	(71,432)	(69,716)
Proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions	123,025	28,758	23,691
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(15,836)	0	0
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	9,461	(102,138)	(88,509)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of notes payable	(218)	(200)	(183)
Repurchases of common stock	(159,172)	(277,535)	(353,509)
Dividends paid	(155,935)	(145,631)	(136,423)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(315,325)	(423,366)	(490,115)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations	13,284	(226)	(11,872)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	303,948	(6,101)	(18,174)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	270,478	276,579	294,753
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	574,426	270,478	276,579
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	577	232	233
Income taxes, net of refunds	128,321	191,522	137,147
Non-cash items:
Stock repurchases awaiting settlement	3,104	6,469	11,359
Fund exchanges within employee deferred compensation trusts	$ 208,055	$ 41,648	$ 79,300

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations. Robert Half International Inc. (the “Company”) provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps ® , Robert Half ® Finance & Accounting , OfficeTeam ® , Robert Half ® Technology , Robert Half ® Management Resources , Robert Half ® Legal , The Creative Group ® , and Protiviti ® . The Company, through its Accountemps , Robert Half Finance & Accounting , and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is a specialized provider of contract, full-time, and senior-level project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled contract administrative support professionals. Robert Half Technology provides project and full-time technology professionals. Robert Half Legal provides contract, project, and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel. The Creative Group provides interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that helps companies solve problems in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Revenues are predominantly derived from specialized staffing services. The Company operates in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company is a Delaware corporation. Basis of Presentation. The Consolidated Financial Statements (“Financial Statements”) of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current presentation. Principles of Consolidation. The Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, variable consideration, workers’ compensation losses, income and other taxes, and assumptions used in the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment and in the valuation of stock grants subject to market conditions. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions. We are continuing to monitor the efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (“COVID-19”), including uncertainty around the duration and extent of the stay-at-home orders and the effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. In light of the ongoing economic disruption, we continue to face a greater degree of uncertainty than normal in making the judgments and estimates needed to apply the Company’s significant accounting policies. As the situation continues to develop, we may make changes to these estimates and judgments over time, which could result in meaningful impacts to the Company’s financial statements in future periods. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions. Service Revenues. The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. See Note C for further discussion of the revenue recognition accounting policy. Costs of Services. Direct costs of temporary and consultant staffing consist of payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs for the Company’s engagement professionals, as well as reimbursable expenses. Direct costs of permanent placement staffing services consist of reimbursable expenses. Risk consulting and internal audit direct costs of services include professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs, as well as reimbursable expenses. Advertising Costs. The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $37.2 million, $54.3 million, and $52.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. (Income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts . The Company has changed its Consolidated Statements of Operations to separately present (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts. Under the Company’s employee deferred compensation plans, employees direct the investment of their account balances, and the Company invests amounts held in the associated investment trusts consistent with these directions. As realized and unrealized investment gains and losses occur, the Company’s deferred compensation obligation to employees changes accordingly. Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations remain in selling, general and administrative expenses or, in the case of risk consulting and internal audit services, costs of services. The value of the related investment trust assets also changes by an equal and offsetting amount, leaving no net cost to the Company. The Company’s (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts consists primarily of unrealized and realized gains and losses and dividend income from trust investments. Such amounts were previously presented as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, or, in the case of risk consulting and internal audit services, costs of services. Reclassifications have been made to prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current presentation. The following table presents the Company’s (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Dividend income $ (8,322) $ (10,425) $ (10,857) Realized and unrealized (gains) losses (66,866) (44,492) 22,343 $ (75,188) $ (54,917) $ 11,486 Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and certain other items that are recorded directly to stockholders’ equity. The Company’s only sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are foreign currency translation and foreign defined benefit plan adjustments. Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents. This includes money market funds that meet the requirements to be treated as cash equivalents. However, money market funds held in investment trusts that are being used as investments to satisfy the Company’s obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans are treated as investments and are included in employee deferred compensation trust assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the observability of the inputs available in the market to measure fair value, summarized as follows: Level 1: observable inputs for identical assets or liabilities, such as quoted prices in active markets Level 2: inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly Level 3: unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires management’s best estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates fair value because of their short-term nature. The Company holds mutual funds and money market funds to satisfy its obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans, which are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1). The following table sets forth the composition of the underlying assets which comprise the Company’s deferred compensation trust assets (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Balance at December 31, 2020 Quoted Prices Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Assets Money market funds $ 69,681 $ 69,681 — — Mutual funds - bond 27,282 27,282 — — Mutual funds - stock 234,667 234,667 — — Mutual funds - blend 75,004 75,004 — — $ 406,634 $ 406,634 — — Fair Value Measurements Using Balance at December 31, 2019 Quoted Prices Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Assets Money market funds $ 141,295 $ 141,295 — — Mutual funds - bond 28,451 28,451 — — Mutual funds - stock 170,469 170,469 — — Mutual funds - blend 58,227 58,227 — — $ 398,442 $ 398,442 — — Certain items such as goodwill and other intangible assets are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The Company determines the fair value of these items using level 3 inputs. There are inherent limitations when estimating the fair value of financial instruments, and the fair values reported are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in current market transactions. Allowance for Credit Losses. The Company is exposed to credit losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company establishes an allowance for these potential credit losses based on its review of customers’ credit profiles, historical loss statistics, prepayments, recoveries, current business conditions and macro-economic trends. The Company considers risk characteristics of trade receivables based on asset type, size, term, and geographical locations to evaluate trade receivables on a collective basis. The Company applies credit loss estimates to these pooled receivables to determine expected credit losses. The following table sets forth the activity in the allowance for credit losses from December 31, 2019, through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Allowance for Credit Losses Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 22,885 Adoption of accounting pronouncement 558 Balance as of January 1, 2020 $ 23,443 Charges to expense 4,200 Deductions (7,906) Other, including translation adjustments (120) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 19,617 Property and Equipment . Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following useful lives: Computer hardware 2 to 3 years Computer software 2 to 3 years Furniture and equipment 3 to 5 years Leasehold improvements Term of lease Internal-use Software. The Company capitalizes direct costs incurred in the development of internal-use software. Cloud computing implementation costs incurred in hosting arrangements are capitalized and reported as a component of other assets. All other internal-use software development costs are capitalized and reported as a component of computer software within property and equipment on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Capitalized internal-use software development costs were $40.6 million, $35.6 million, and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Leases. The Company determines if a contractual arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current operating lease liabilities, and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Company does not currently have finance leases. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The lease payments included in the present value are fixed lease payments and index-based variable lease payments. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimates its collateralized incremental borrowing rate, based on information available at the commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company applies the portfolio approach in applying discount rates to its classes of leases. The operating lease ROU assets include any payments made before the commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not currently have subleases. The Company does not currently have residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants in its leases. The Company has contracts with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for on a combined basis. Goodwill and Intangible Assets . Goodwill and intangible assets primarily consist of the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair market value of their net tangible assets at the date of acquisition. Identifiable intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives, typically ranging from two Income Taxes . The Company’s operations are subject to U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign income taxes. In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its provision for income taxes, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws that are applicable to its operations in various jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured and recorded using current enacted tax rates, which the Company expects will apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are recovered or settled. The likelihood of a material change in the Company’s expected realization of its deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions. The Company also evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. Management evaluates all positive and negative evidence and uses judgment regarding past and future events, including operating results, to help determine when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. When appropriate, a valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets to offset future tax benefits that may not be realized. Valuation allowances of $24.1 million and $21.6 million were recorded as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The valuation allowances recorded related primarily to net operating losses in certain foreign operations. If such losses are ultimately utilized to offset future segment income, the Company will recognize a tax benefit up to the full amount of the valuation reserve. Workers’ Compensation . Except for states which require participation in state-operated insurance funds, the Company retains the economic burden for the first $0.5 million per occurrence in workers’ compensation claims. Workers’ compensation includes the ongoing medical and indemnity costs for claims filed, which may be paid over numerous years following the date of injury. Claims in excess of $0.5 million are insured. Workers’ compensation expense includes the insurance premiums for claims in excess of $0.5 million, claims administration fees charged by the Company’s workers’ compensation administrator, premiums paid to state-operated insurance funds, and an estimate for the Company’s liability for Incurred But Not Reported (“IBNR”) claims and for the ongoing development of existing claims. The reserves for IBNR claims and for the ongoing development of existing claims in each reporting period includes estimates. The Company has established reserves for workers’ compensation claims using loss development rates which are estimated using periodic third party actuarial valuations based upon historical loss statistics which include the Company’s historical frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims, and an estimate of future cost trends. While management believes that its assumptions and estimates are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company’s future results. Foreign Currency Translation. The reporting currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. The results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The financial position of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is translated at the current exchange rates at the end of the period, and the related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Stockholders’ Equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and have not been material for all periods presented. Stock-based Compensation . Under various stock plans, officers, employees and outside directors have received or may receive grants of restricted stock, stock units, stock appreciation rights or options to purchase common stock. The Company recognizes compensation expense equal to the grant-date fair value for all stock-based payment awards that are expected to vest. This expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award, unless the awards are subject to performance conditions, in which case the Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period of each separate vesting tranche. The Company determines the grant-date fair value of its restricted stock and stock unit awards using the fair market value of its stock on the grant date, unless the awards are subject to market conditions, in which case the Company utilizes a binomial-lattice model (i.e., Monte Carlo simulation model). The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables to determine the stock-based compensation expense. No stock appreciation rights have been granted under the Company’s existing stock plans. The Company has not granted any options to purchase common stock since 2006.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Current Expected Credit Losses Model. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance amending how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance requires the application of a current expected credit loss model, which is a new impairment model based on expected losses. The new guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the new guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and the impact of adoption was not material to its financial statements. Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to simplify the goodwill impairment testing process. The new standard eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. If a company determines in Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test that the carrying value of goodwill is greater than the fair value, an impairment in that amount should be recorded to the income statement, rather than proceeding to Step 2. The new guidance was effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption was permitted. The Company adopted the new guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and the impact of adoption was not material to its financial statements. Reference Rate Reform. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” The amendments provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. The application of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted None

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Service revenues as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations represent services rendered to customers less variable consideration, such as sales adjustments and allowances. Reimbursements, including those related to travel and out-of-pocket expenses, are also included in service revenues, and equivalent amounts of reimbursable expenses are included in costs of services. Temporary and consultant staffing revenues. Temporary and consultant staffing revenues from contracts with customers are recognized in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice, when the services are rendered by the Company’s engagement professionals. The substantial majority of engagement professionals placed on assignment by the Company are the Company’s legal employees while they are working on assignments. The Company pays all related costs of employment, including workers’ compensation insurance, state and federal unemployment taxes, social security and certain fringe benefits. The Company assumes the risk of acceptability of its employees to its customers. The Company records temporary and consultant staffing revenue on a gross basis as a principal versus on a net basis as an agent in the presentation of revenues and expenses. The Company has concluded that gross reporting is appropriate because the Company (i) has the risk of identifying and hiring qualified employees, (ii) has the discretion to select the employees and establish their price and duties and (iii) bears the risk for services that are not fully paid for by customers. Fees paid to Time Management or Vendor Management service providers selected by clients are recorded as a reduction of revenues, as the Company is not the primary obligor with respect to those services. Permanent placement staffing revenues. Permanent placement staffing revenues from contracts with customers are primarily recognized when employment candidates accept offers of permanent employment. The Company has a substantial history of estimating the financial impact of permanent placement candidates who do not remain with its clients through the 90-day guarantee period. These amounts are established based primarily on historical data and are recorded as contract liabilities. Fees to clients are generally calculated as a percentage of the new employee’s annual compensation. No fees for permanent placement services are charged to employment candidates. Risk consulting and internal audit services revenues. Risk consulting and internal audit services are generally provided on a time-and-material basis or fixed-fee basis. Revenues earned under time-and-material arrangements and fixed-fee arrangements are recognized using a proportional performance method. Revenue is measured using cost incurred relative to total estimated cost for the engagement to measure progress towards satisfying the Company’s performance obligations. Cost incurred represents work performed and thereby best depicts the transfer of control to the customer. Risk consulting and internal audit services generally contain one or more performance obligation(s) which are satisfied over a period of time. Revenues are recognized over time as the performance obligations are satisfied, because the services provided do not have any alternative use to the Company, and contracts generally include language giving the Company an enforceable right to payment for services provided to date. The Company periodically evaluates the need to provide for any losses on these projects, and losses are recognized when it is probable that a loss will be incurred. The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by line of business (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Accountemps $ 1,558,024 $ 1,985,221 $ 1,941,544 OfficeTeam 764,947 1,040,755 1,065,427 Robert Half Technology 695,418 765,831 717,166 Robert Half Management Resources 698,942 792,757 738,810 Elimination of intersegment revenues (a) (239,996) (172,439) (132,381) Temporary and consultant staffing 3,477,335 4,412,125 4,330,566 Permanent placement staffing 370,109 533,432 511,989 Risk consulting and internal audit services 1,261,556 1,128,875 957,716 Service revenues $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 (a) Service revenues for Accountemps, OfficeTeam, Robert Half Technology and Robert Half Management Resources include intersegment revenues, which represent revenues from services provided to the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services segment in connection with the Company’s blended business solutions. Intersegment revenues for each line of business are aggregated and then eliminated as a single line. Payment terms in the Company’s contracts vary by the type and location of the Company’s customer and the services offered. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. Contracts with multiple performance obligations are recognized as performance obligations are delivered, and contract value is allocated based on relative stand-alone selling values of the services and products in the arrangement. As of December 31, 2020, aggregate transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that were unsatisfied for contracts with an expected duration of greater than one year was $134.9 million. Of this amount, $123.6 million is expected to be recognized within the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2019, aggregate transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that were unsatisfied for contracts with an expected duration of greater than one year was $81.7 million. Contract liabilities are recorded when cash payments are received or due in advance of performance and are reflected in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The following table sets forth the activity in contract liabilities from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Contract Liabilities Balance as of January 1, 2018 $ 9,003 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 12,170 Revenue recognized (10,542) Other, including translation adjustments 2,366 Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 12,997 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 13,030 Revenue recognized (12,072) Other, including translation adjustments (1,007) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 12,948 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 25,614 Revenue recognized (20,687) Other, including translation adjustments 377 Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 18,252

Other Current Assets

Other Current Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Current Assets	Other Current Assets Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Prepaid expenses $ 97,674 $ 84,364 Other 49,841 42,768 Other current assets $ 147,515 $ 127,132

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment, Net	Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Computer hardware $ 159,180 $ 164,547 Computer software 250,585 291,681 Furniture and equipment 91,112 88,136 Leasehold improvements 164,807 150,644 Property and equipment, cost 665,684 695,008 Accumulated depreciation (555,867) (566,623) Property and equipment, net $ 109,817 $ 128,385

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	Leases The Company has operating leases for corporate and field offices, and certain equipment. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms of 1 month to 9 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. Operating lease expense was $81.5 million and $77.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Rental expense, primarily for offices premises, was $89.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Supplemental cash flow information related to leases consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 Cash paid for operating lease liabilities $ 84,569 $ 78,152 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities 37,786 32,170 Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases consisted of the following: December 31, 2020 2019 Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases 4.5 years 4.8 years Weighted average discount rate for operating leases 2.6 % 3.0 % Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2020, were as follows (in thousands): 2021 $ 84,849 2022 71,119 2023 59,211 2024 47,478 2025 29,173 Thereafter 29,440 Less: Imputed interest (18,797) Present value of operating lease liabilities (a) $ 302,473 (a) Includes current portion of $78.6 million for operating leases. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no material future minimum lease obligations that had not yet commenced.

Goodwill

Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	Goodwill The following table sets forth the activity in goodwill from December 31, 2018, through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Goodwill Temporary and consultant staffing Permanent placement staffing Risk consulting and internal audit services Total Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 134,067 $ 26,058 $ 49,833 $ 209,958 Foreign currency translation adjustments 143 39 224 406 Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 134,210 $ 26,097 $ 50,057 $ 210,364 Acquisitions (a) — — 12,199 12,199 Foreign currency translation adjustments 301 83 108 492 Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 134,511 $ 26,180 $ 62,364 $ 223,055 (a) In December 2020 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Protiviti, acquired Identropy, Inc., an independent security consulting firm specializing in advisory, implementation and managed services for identity, access management and access governance solutions. As part of the acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $12.2 million within its risk consulting and internal audit services segment.

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Cos

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs	Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs Accrued payroll and benefit costs consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Payroll and benefits 311,169 280,918 Payroll taxes 67,712 21,831 Workers’ compensation 18,996 19,655 Accrued payroll and benefit costs $ 397,877 $ 322,404 The Company, under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, deferred paying $102.2 million of applicable payroll taxes as of December 31, 2020, of which $51.1 million is expected to be paid during the next 12 months and is included in accrued payroll and benefit costs and the remaining $51.1 million is included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Employee Deferred Compensation

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Deferred Compensation Plans [Abstract]
Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations	Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations The Company provides various qualified defined contribution 401(k) plans covering eligible employees. The plans offer a savings feature with the Company matching employee contributions. Assets of this plan are held by an independent trustee for the sole benefit of participating employees. Nonqualified plans are provided for employees not eligible for the qualified plans. These plans include provisions for salary deferrals and Company matching and discretionary contributions. The asset value of the nonqualified plans was $406.6 million and $398.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company holds these assets to satisfy the Company’s liabilities under its employee deferred compensation plans. The liability value for the nonqualified plans was $435.1 million and $421.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Deferred compensation plan and other benefits related to the Company’s executive chairman was $91.8 million as of December 31, 2019, and was included in the liability value for the nonqualified plans. The Company paid out the full balance of this plan during the year ended December 31, 2020. The following table presents the Company’s compensation expense related to its qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified plans (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Contribution expense $ 42,092 $ 26,122 $ 24,184 Employee deferred compensation expense (income) related to changes in the fair value of trust assets 75,188 54,917 (11,486) $ 117,280 $ 81,039 $ 12,698 The Company has statutory defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans outside the U.S., which are not material.

Notes Payable

Notes Payable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Notes Payable	Notes Payable The Company has a promissory note payable with a balance of $0.2 million at December 31, 2020, and $0.5 million at December 31, 2019, which bears interest at a fixed interest rate of 9.0% per annum and will mature in October 2021. The Company has an uncommitted letter of credit facility (the “facility”) of up to $35.0 million, which is available to cover the issuance of debt support standby letters of credit. The Company had used $17.0 million in debt support standby letters of credit as of December 31, 2020, and $16.8 million as of December 31, 2019. Of the debt support standby letters of credit outstanding, $16.8 million as of December 31, 2020, and $16.3 million as of December 31, 2019, satisfies workers’ compensation insurer’s collateral requirements. There is a service fee of 1.5% on the used portion of the facility. The facility is subject to certain financial covenants and expires on August 31, 2021. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2020. The Company intends to renew this facility prior to its August 31, 2021 expiration. In May 2020 the Company entered into a new $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “364-Day Credit Agreement”). Borrowings under the 364-Day Credit Agreement will bear interest in accordance with the terms of the borrowing, which typically will be calculated according to the LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The 364-Day Credit Agreement is subject to certain financial covenants and the Company was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2020. There were no borrowings under the 364-Day Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2020.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Current: Federal $ 79,926 $ 107,699 $ 99,830 State 27,401 39,028 38,356 Foreign 20,018 33,227 35,007 Deferred: Federal and state (9,089) (9,959) (15,849) Foreign (2,650) 1,087 (30) $ 115,606 $ 171,082 $ 157,314 Income before the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Domestic $ 378,876 $ 545,695 $ 485,489 Foreign 43,006 79,820 106,113 $ 421,882 $ 625,515 $ 591,602 The income taxes shown above varied from the statutory federal income tax rates for these periods as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Federal U.S. income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 4.9 4.9 4.7 Permanent book/tax differences 0.3 0.5 0.2 Compensation book/tax differences 1.3 0.6 0.4 Non-U.S. income taxed at different rates, net of foreign tax credits 1.7 2.1 2.0 Federal tax credits (1.5) (1.4) (1.7) Tax impact of uncertain tax positions 0.1 0.2 0.8 Tax effects of TCJA — — 0.4 Other, net (0.4) (0.5) (1.2) Effective tax rate 27.4 % 27.4 % 26.6 % The deferred portion of the tax (benefit) provision consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Accrued expenses, deducted for tax when paid $ (19,115) $ (17,797) $ (21,884) Capitalized costs for books, deducted for tax 1,904 3,246 (4,832) Depreciation 6,732 3,526 10,071 Other, net (1,260) 2,153 766 $ (11,739) $ (8,872) $ (15,879) The components of the deferred income tax amounts at December 31, 2020 and 2019, were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Deferred Income Tax Assets Employee deferred compensation and other benefit obligations $ 102,478 $ 105,096 Deferred Payroll Taxes (CARES Act) 27,086 — Credits and net operating loss carryforwards 30,651 25,130 Stock-based compensation 3,637 7,805 Allowance for credit losses 5,272 7,944 Workers’ compensation 3,774 3,929 Operating lease liabilities 59,249 51,932 Other 13,361 10,256 Total deferred income tax assets 245,508 212,092 Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Amortization of intangible assets (24,163) (22,009) Property and equipment basis differences (25,555) (16,981) Right-of-use assets (49,833) (44,448) Other (8,922) (7,278) Total deferred income tax liabilities (108,473) (90,716) Valuation allowance (24,132) (21,618) Total deferred income tax assets, net $ 112,903 $ 99,758 Credits and net operating loss carryforwards primarily include tax-effected net operating losses in foreign countries of $27.6 million that expire in 2021 and later; and California enterprise zone tax credits of $2.2 million that expire in 2023. Of the $2.2 million of California enterprise zone tax credits, the Company expects that it will utilize $0.7 million of these credits prior to expiration. Valuation allowances of $22.6 million have been maintained against net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred items in foreign countries. In addition, a valuation allowance of $1.5 million has been maintained against California enterprise zone tax credits. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s consolidated financial statements provide for any related U.S. tax liability on earnings of foreign subsidiaries that may be repatriated. The following table reconciles the total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Balance at beginning of period $ 9,354 $ 8,418 $ 2,886 Gross increases—tax positions in prior years 220 — 3,259 Gross decreases—tax positions in prior years — (760) (8) Gross increases—tax positions in current year 1,678 1,703 2,284 Settlements — (4) — Lapse of statute of limitations (1,467) (3) (3) Balance at end of period $ 9,785 $ 9,354 $ 8,418 The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate is $9.8 million, $9.3 million and $8.3 million or the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued as of December 31, 2020 was $0.5 million, including less than $0.1 million increase recorded in income tax expense during the year. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued as of December 31, 2019 was $0.5 million, including a $0.2 million increase recorded in income tax expense during the year. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued as of December 31, 2018, was $0.3 million. The Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the settlement of tax uncertainties will occur within the next twelve months. The Company’s major income tax jurisdictions are the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. For U.S. federal income tax, the Company remains subject to examination for 2017 and subsequent years. For major U.S. states, with few exceptions, the Company remains subject to examination for 2016 and subsequent years. Generally, for foreign countries, the Company remains subject to examination for 2013 and subsequent years.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies On March 23, 2015, Plaintiff Jessica Gentry, on her own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of allegedly similarly situated individuals, filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, which was subsequently amended on October 23, 2015. The complaint alleges that a putative class of current and former employees of the Company working in California since March 13, 2010 were denied compensation for the time they spent interviewing “for temporary and permanent employment opportunities” as well as performing activities related to the interview process. Gentry seeks recovery on her own behalf and on behalf of the putative class in an unspecified amount for this allegedly unpaid compensation. Gentry also seeks recovery of an unspecified amount for the alleged failure of the Company to provide her and the putative class with accurate wage statements. Gentry also seeks an unspecified amount of other damages, attorneys’ fees, and statutory penalties, including penalties for allegedly not paying all wages due upon separation to former employees and statutory penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “aggrieved employees” as defined by California’s Labor Code Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”). On January 4, 2016, the Court denied a motion by the Company to compel all of Gentry’s claims, except the PAGA claim, to individual arbitration. At this stage of the litigation, it is not feasible to predict the outcome of or a range of loss, should a loss occur, from this proceeding and, accordingly, no amounts have been provided in the Company’s Financial Statements. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and the Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the litigation. On April 6, 2018, Plaintiff Shari Dorff, on her own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of allegedly similarly situated individuals, filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. In addition to certain claims individual to Plaintiff Dorff, the complaint alleges that salaried recruiters based in California have been misclassified as exempt employees and seeks an unspecified amount for: unpaid wages resulting from such alleged misclassification; alleged failure to provide a reasonable opportunity to take meal periods and rest breaks; alleged failure to pay wages on a timely basis both during employment and upon separation; alleged failure to comply with California requirements regarding wage statements and record-keeping; and alleged improper denial of expense reimbursement. Plaintiff Dorff also seeks an unspecified amount of other damages, attorneys’ fees, and penalties, including but not limited to statutory penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “aggrieved employees” as defined by PAGA. At this stage of the litigation, it is not feasible to predict the outcome of or a range of loss, should a loss occur, from this proceeding and, accordingly, no amounts have been provided in the Company’s Financial Statements. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and the Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the litigation. The Company is involved in a number of other lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. While management does not expect any of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows, litigation is subject to certain inherent uncertainties. Legal costs associated with the resolution of claims, lawsuits and other contingencies are expensed as incurred.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders’ Equity Stock Repurchase Program. As of December 31, 2020, the Company is authorized to repurchase, from time to time, up to 9.9 million additional shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. The number and the cost of common stock shares repurchased during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Common stock repurchased (in shares) 2,505 4,253 5,614 Common stock repurchased $ 138,408 $ 250,154 $ 351,194 Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of applicable statutory withholding taxes. The number and the cost of employee stock plan repurchases made during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares) 366 352 235 Repurchases related to employee stock plans $ 17,399 $ 22,491 $ 13,674 The repurchased shares are held in treasury and are presented as if constructively retired. Treasury stock is accounted for using the cost method. Treasury stock activity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (consisting of purchase of shares for the treasury) is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Dividends. The Company’s Board of Directors may at their discretion declare and pay cash dividends upon the shares of the Company’s stock either out of the Company’s retained earnings or additional paid-in capital. The dividends declared per share were $1.36, $1.24, and $1.12 during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Stock Plans

Stock Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Stock Plans	Stock Plans Under various stock plans, officers, employees, and outside directors have received or may receive grants of restricted stock, stock units, stock appreciation rights or options to purchase common stock. Grants have been made at the discretion of the Committees of the Board of Directors. Grants generally vest either on a straight-line basis over four years or on a cliff basis over three years. Shares offered under the plan are authorized but unissued shares. Recipients of restricted stock do not pay any cash consideration to the Company for the shares and have the right to vote all shares subject to such grant. Restricted stock grants contain forfeitable rights to dividends. Dividends for these grants are accrued on the dividend payment dates but are not paid until the shares vest, and dividends accrued for shares that ultimately do not vest are forfeited. Recipients of stock units do not pay any cash consideration for the units, do not have the right to vote, and do not receive dividends with respect to such units. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted performance shares to its executives in the form of restricted stock. The shares granted contain (1) a performance condition based on Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”), and (2) a market condition based on Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”). The ROIC performance condition and the TSR market condition measure the Company’s performance against a peer group. Shares will be delivered at the end of a three year vesting, TSR and ROIC performance period based on the Company’s actual performance compared to the peer group. The ROIC performance condition is calculated first and has a range of possible outcomes of zero percent (0%) to one hundred fifty percent (150%). The TSR condition is considered a modifier of the ROIC performance condition. The range for the TSR condition is seventy-five percent (75%) to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%). The result calculated by multiplying the ROIC percentage by the TSR percentage is used to calculate the actual number of shares earned. The fair value of this award was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions: a historical volatility of 26.44%, a 0% dividend yield, and a risk-free interest rate of 1.42%. The historical volatility was based on the most recent 2.88-year incorporated in the returns of each company’s stock, therefore the Monte Carlo simulation reflects a 0% dividend yield for each stock. The use of a 0% dividend yield is mathematically equivalent to including the dividends in the calculation of TSR. The risk-free interest rate is equal to the yield, as of the valuation date, of the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill that is commensurate with the remaining performance period. Unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the next four years. Total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, for restricted stock and stock units was $73.9 million, $71.6 million, and $65.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The following table reflects activity under all stock plans from December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2020, and the weighted average exercise prices (in thousands, except per share amounts): Non-Executive Officer Time Based Awards Performance Based Awards with Market Conditions Performance Based Awards without Market Conditions Total Awards with Performance Condition Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Outstanding, December 31, 2017 1,160 $ 45.75 616 $ 56.76 330 $ 47.45 946 $ 53.51 Granted 533 $ 57.16 — — 278 $ 56.83 278 $ 56.83 Restrictions lapsed (568) $ 47.62 (129) $ 71.86 — — (129) $ 71.86 Forfeited (40) $ 49.10 (129) $ 71.86 — — (129) $ 71.86 Outstanding, December 31, 2018 1,085 $ 50.24 358 $ 45.93 608 $51.74 966 $ 49.58 Granted 434 $ 66.66 236 $ 74.01 — — 236 $ 74.01 Restrictions lapsed (557) $ 50.29 (338) $ 45.93 — — (338) $ 45.93 Forfeited (15) $ 53.85 (20) $ 45.93 — — (20) $ 45.93 Outstanding, December 31, 2019 947 $ 57.67 236 $ 74.01 608 $ 51.74 844 $ 57.97 Granted 625 $ 54.92 223 $ 66.86 70 $ 47.45 293 $ 62.22 Restrictions lapsed (526) $ 54.57 — — (400) $ 47.45 (400) $ 47.45 Forfeited (26) $ 58.37 — — — — — — Outstanding, December 31, 2020 1,020 $ 57.57 459 $ 70.53 278 $ 56.83 737 $ 65.36 The total fair value of shares vested was $46.2 million, $57.0 million, and $40.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Net Income Per Share

Net Income Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income Per Share	Net Income Per Share The calculation of net income per share for the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Net income $ 306,276 $ 454,433 $ 434,288 Basic: Weighted average shares 112,729 115,656 120,513 Diluted: Weighted average shares 112,729 115,656 120,513 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 589 755 1,089 Diluted weighted average shares 113,318 116,411 121,602 Net income per share: Basic $ 2.72 $ 3.93 $ 3.60 Diluted $ 2.70 $ 3.90 $ 3.57

Business Segments

Business Segments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Business Segments	Business Segments The Company has three reportable segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Operating segments are defined as components of the Company for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The temporary and consultant staffing segment provides specialized staffing in the accounting and finance, administrative and office, information technology, legal, advertising, marketing and web design fields. The permanent placement staffing segment provides full-time personnel in the accounting, finance, administrative and office, and information technology fields. The risk consulting and internal audit services segment provides business and technology risk consulting and internal audit services. The accounting policies of the segments are set forth in Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company evaluates performance based on income from operations before net interest income, intangible amortization expense, and income taxes. The following table provides a reconciliation of service revenues and segment income by reportable segment to consolidated results (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Service revenues Temporary and consultant staffing $ 3,477,335 $ 4,412,125 $ 4,330,566 Permanent placement staffing 370,109 533,432 511,989 Risk consulting and internal audit services 1,261,556 1,128,875 957,716 $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 Segment income Temporary and consultant staffing $ 237,279 $ 410,153 $ 404,800 Permanent placement staffing 28,799 83,885 90,801 Risk consulting and internal audit services 155,680 127,713 93,324 Combined segment income 421,758 621,751 588,925 Amortization of intangible assets 1,219 1,361 1,705 Interest income, net (1,343) (5,125) (4,382) Income before income taxes $ 421,882 $ 625,515 $ 591,602 Service revenues presented above are shown net of eliminations of intersegment revenues. Intersegment revenues between temporary and consultant staffing segment and risk consulting and internal audit services segment were $240.0 million $172.4 million and $132.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Assets by reportable segment are not presented as the Company does not allocate assets to its reportable segments, nor is such information used by management for purposes of assessing performance or allocating resources. The Company operates internationally, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The following tables represent revenues and long-lived assets by geographic location (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Service revenues (a) Domestic $ 3,984,742 $ 4,708,715 $ 4,433,767 Foreign (b) 1,124,258 1,365,717 1,366,504 $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Property and equipment, net Domestic $ 88,117 $ 99,365 $ 96,169 Foreign 21,700 29,020 29,007 $ 109,817 $ 128,385 $ 125,176 (a) There were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total service revenues in any year presented. (b) No individual country represented more than 10% of revenues in any year presented.

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaud

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) The following tabulation shows certain quarterly financial data for 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts): Quarter 2020 One Two Three Four Service revenues $ 1,506,691 $ 1,108,326 $ 1,189,897 $ 1,304,086 Gross margin $ 614,388 $ 416,535 $ 467,346 $ 514,342 Income before income taxes $ 131,763 $ 58,024 $ 102,510 $ 129,585 Net income $ 89,915 $ 46,196 $ 75,749 $ 94,416 Basic net income per share $ .79 $ .41 $ .67 $ .84 Diluted net income per share $ .79 $ .41 $ .67 $ .84 Quarter 2019 One Two Three Four Service revenues $ 1,468,530 $ 1,516,385 $ 1,552,132 $ 1,537,385 Gross margin $ 605,401 $ 636,589 $ 646,278 $ 636,861 Income before income taxes $ 147,383 $ 160,103 $ 163,782 $ 154,247 Net income $ 109,798 $ 114,612 $ 117,181 $ 112,842 Basic net income per share $ .94 $ .98 $ 1.02 $ .99 Diluted net income per share $ .93 $ .98 $ 1.01 $ .98

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On February 11, 2021, the Company announced the following: Quarterly dividend per share $ .38 Declaration date February 11, 2021 Record date February 25, 2021 Payment date March 15, 2021

Schedule II - Valuation and Qua

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands) Balance at Charged to Deductions Translation Balance at Year Ended December 31, 2018 Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable $ 23,682 (a) 11,914 (8,690) 772 $ 27,678 Deferred tax valuation allowance $ 20,178 5,683 (2,599) (190) $ 23,072 Year Ended December 31, 2019 Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable $ 27,678 9,868 (8,687) (103) $ 28,756 Deferred tax valuation allowance $ 23,072 719 (2,154) (19) $ 21,618 Year Ended December 31, 2020 Allowance for credit losses $ 23,443 (b) 4,200 (7,906) (120) $ 19,617 Deferred tax valuation allowance $ 21,618 3,462 (2,333) 1,385 $ 24,132 (a) In accordance with its adoption of ASC 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, on January 1, 2018, the Company reclassified certain allowances that are now reflected as liabilities in the amount of $9.5 million. (b) In accordance with its adoption of ASC 326 Current Expected Credit Losses Model, on January 1, 2020, the Company established allowances based on expected losses due to credit risk of its customers.

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation.    The Consolidated Financial Statements (“Financial Statements”) of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation. The Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, variable consideration, workers’ compensation losses, income and other taxes, and assumptions used in the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment and in the valuation of stock grants subject to market conditions. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions. We are continuing to monitor the efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (“COVID-19”), including uncertainty around the duration and extent of the stay-at-home orders and the effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. In light of the ongoing economic disruption, we continue to face a greater degree of uncertainty than normal in making the judgments and estimates needed to apply the Company’s significant accounting policies. As the situation continues to develop, we may make changes to these estimates and judgments over time, which could result in meaningful impacts to the Company’s financial statements in future periods. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s
Service Revenues and Costs of Services	Service Revenues. The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. See Note C for further discussion of the revenue recognition accounting policy. Costs of Services. Direct costs of temporary and consultant staffing consist of payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs for the Company’s engagement professionals, as well as reimbursable expenses. Direct costs of permanent placement staffing services consist of reimbursable expenses. Risk consulting and internal audit direct costs of services include professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs, as well as reimbursable expenses.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs.    The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.
(Income) Loss from Investments Held in Employee Deferred Compensation Trusts	(Income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts. The Company has changed its Consolidated Statements of Operations to separately present (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts. Under the Company’s employee deferred compensation plans, employees direct the investment of their account balances, and the Company invests amounts held in the associated investment trusts consistent with these directions. As realized and unrealized investment gains and losses occur, the Company’s deferred compensation obligation to employees changes accordingly. Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations remain in selling, general and administrative expenses or, in the case of risk consulting and internal audit services, costs of services. The value of the related investment trust assets also changes by an equal and offsetting amount, leaving no net cost to the Company. The Company’s (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts consists primarily of unrealized and realized gains and losses and dividend income from trust investments. Such amounts were previously presented as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses, or, in the case of risk consulting and internal audit services, costs of services. Reclassifications have been made to prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current presentation.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and certain other items that are recorded directly to stockholders’ equity. The Company’s only sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are foreign currency translation and foreign defined benefit plan adjustments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents. This includes money market funds that meet the requirements to be treated as cash equivalents. However, money market funds held in investment trusts that are being used as investments to satisfy the Company’s obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans are treated as investments and are included in employee deferred compensation trust assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the observability of the inputs available in the market to measure fair value, summarized as follows: Level 1: observable inputs for identical assets or liabilities, such as quoted prices in active markets Level 2: inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly Level 3: unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires management’s best estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates fair value because of their short-term nature. The Company holds mutual funds and money market funds to satisfy its obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans, which are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1).
Allowance for Credit Losses and Accounts Receivable Allowances	Allowance for Credit Losses. The Company is exposed to credit losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company establishes an allowance for these potential credit losses based on its review of customers’ credit profiles, historical loss statistics, prepayments, recoveries, current business conditions and macro-economic trends. The Company considers risk characteristics of trade receivables based on asset type, size, term, and geographical locations to evaluate trade receivables on a collective basis. The Company applies credit loss estimates to these pooled receivables to determine expected credit losses.
Leases	Leases. The Company determines if a contractual arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current operating lease liabilities, and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Company does not currently have finance leases. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The lease payments included in the present value are fixed lease payments and index-based variable lease payments. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimates its collateralized incremental borrowing rate, based on information available at the commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company applies the portfolio approach in applying discount rates to its classes of leases. The operating lease ROU assets include any payments made before the commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not currently have subleases. The Company does not currently have residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants in its leases. The Company has contracts with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for on a combined basis.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets . Goodwill and intangible assets primarily consist of the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair market value of their net tangible assets at the date of acquisition. Identifiable intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives, typically ranging from two
Income Taxes	Income Taxes . The Company’s operations are subject to U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign income taxes. In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its provision for income taxes, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws that are applicable to its operations in various jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured and recorded using current enacted tax rates, which the Company expects will apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are recovered or settled. The likelihood of a material change in the Company’s expected realization of its deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions.
Workers' Compensation	Workers’ Compensation . Except for states which require participation in state-operated insurance funds, the Company retains the economic burden for the first $0.5 million per occurrence in workers’ compensation claims. Workers’ compensation includes the ongoing medical and indemnity costs for claims filed, which may be paid over numerous years following the date of injury. Claims in excess of $0.5 million are insured. Workers’ compensation expense includes the insurance premiums for claims in excess of $0.5 million, claims administration fees charged by the Company’s workers’ compensation administrator, premiums paid to state-operated insurance funds, and an estimate for the Company’s liability for Incurred But Not Reported (“IBNR”) claims and for the ongoing development of existing claims. The reserves for IBNR claims and for the ongoing development of existing claims in each reporting period includes estimates. The Company has established reserves for workers’ compensation claims using loss development rates which are estimated using periodic third party actuarial valuations based upon historical loss statistics which include the Company’s historical frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims, and an estimate of future cost trends. While management believes that its assumptions and estimates are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company’s future results.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation. The reporting currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is their local currency. The results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The financial position of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is translated at the current exchange rates at the end of the period, and the related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Stockholders’ Equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and have not been material for all periods presented.
Stock-based Compensation	Stock-based Compensation . Under various stock plans, officers, employees and outside directors have received or may receive grants of restricted stock, stock units, stock appreciation rights or options to purchase common stock. The Company recognizes compensation expense equal to the grant-date fair value for all stock-based payment awards that are expected to vest. This expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award, unless the awards are subject to performance conditions, in which case the Company recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service period of each separate vesting tranche. The Company determines the grant-date fair value of its restricted stock and stock unit awards using the fair market value of its stock on the grant date, unless the awards are subject to market conditions, in which case the Company utilizes a binomial-lattice model (i.e., Monte Carlo simulation model). The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables to determine the stock-based compensation expense.
New Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Current Expected Credit Losses Model. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance amending how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance requires the application of a current expected credit loss model, which is a new impairment model based on expected losses. The new guidance was effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted the new guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and the impact of adoption was not material to its financial statements. Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to simplify the goodwill impairment testing process. The new standard eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. If a company determines in Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test that the carrying value of goodwill is greater than the fair value, an impairment in that amount should be recorded to the income statement, rather than proceeding to Step 2. The new guidance was effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption was permitted. The Company adopted the new guidance prospectively as of January 1, 2020, and the impact of adoption was not material to its financial statements. Reference Rate Reform. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” The amendments provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. The application of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted None

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual Disclosure, Postretirement Benefits	The following table presents the Company’s (income) loss from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Dividend income $ (8,322) $ (10,425) $ (10,857) Realized and unrealized (gains) losses (66,866) (44,492) 22,343 $ (75,188) $ (54,917) $ 11,486
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets	The following table sets forth the composition of the underlying assets which comprise the Company’s deferred compensation trust assets (in thousands): Fair Value Measurements Using Balance at December 31, 2020 Quoted Prices Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Assets Money market funds $ 69,681 $ 69,681 — — Mutual funds - bond 27,282 27,282 — — Mutual funds - stock 234,667 234,667 — — Mutual funds - blend 75,004 75,004 — — $ 406,634 $ 406,634 — — Fair Value Measurements Using Balance at December 31, 2019 Quoted Prices Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs Assets Money market funds $ 141,295 $ 141,295 — — Mutual funds - bond 28,451 28,451 — — Mutual funds - stock 170,469 170,469 — — Mutual funds - blend 58,227 58,227 — — $ 398,442 $ 398,442 — —
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	The following table sets forth the activity in the allowance for credit losses from December 31, 2019, through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Allowance for Credit Losses Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 22,885 Adoption of accounting pronouncement 558 Balance as of January 1, 2020 $ 23,443 Charges to expense 4,200 Deductions (7,906) Other, including translation adjustments (120) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 19,617
Depreciation Expense Computed Using Straight-Line Method over Useful Lives	Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following useful lives: Computer hardware 2 to 3 years Computer software 2 to 3 years Furniture and equipment 3 to 5 years Leasehold improvements Term of lease Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Computer hardware $ 159,180 $ 164,547 Computer software 250,585 291,681 Furniture and equipment 91,112 88,136 Leasehold improvements 164,807 150,644 Property and equipment, cost 665,684 695,008 Accumulated depreciation (555,867) (566,623) Property and equipment, net $ 109,817 $ 128,385

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Schedule of Revenue Disaggregated by Line of Business	The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by line of business (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Accountemps $ 1,558,024 $ 1,985,221 $ 1,941,544 OfficeTeam 764,947 1,040,755 1,065,427 Robert Half Technology 695,418 765,831 717,166 Robert Half Management Resources 698,942 792,757 738,810 Elimination of intersegment revenues (a) (239,996) (172,439) (132,381) Temporary and consultant staffing 3,477,335 4,412,125 4,330,566 Permanent placement staffing 370,109 533,432 511,989 Risk consulting and internal audit services 1,261,556 1,128,875 957,716 Service revenues $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 (a) Service revenues for Accountemps, OfficeTeam, Robert Half Technology and Robert Half Management Resources include intersegment revenues, which represent revenues from services provided to the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services segment in connection with the Company’s blended business solutions. Intersegment revenues for each line of business are aggregated and then eliminated as a single line.
Schedule of Contract Liability Activity	The following table sets forth the activity in contract liabilities from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Contract Liabilities Balance as of January 1, 2018 $ 9,003 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 12,170 Revenue recognized (10,542) Other, including translation adjustments 2,366 Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 12,997 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 13,030 Revenue recognized (12,072) Other, including translation adjustments (1,007) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 12,948 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 25,614 Revenue recognized (20,687) Other, including translation adjustments 377 Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 18,252

Other Current Assets (Tables)

Other Current Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Current Assets	Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Prepaid expenses $ 97,674 $ 84,364 Other 49,841 42,768 Other current assets $ 147,515 $ 127,132

Property and Equipment, Net (Ta

Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Components of Property and Equipment	Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following useful lives: Computer hardware 2 to 3 years Computer software 2 to 3 years Furniture and equipment 3 to 5 years Leasehold improvements Term of lease Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Computer hardware $ 159,180 $ 164,547 Computer software 250,585 291,681 Furniture and equipment 91,112 88,136 Leasehold improvements 164,807 150,644 Property and equipment, cost 665,684 695,008 Accumulated depreciation (555,867) (566,623) Property and equipment, net $ 109,817 $ 128,385

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Supplemental cash flow information related to leases consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 Cash paid for operating lease liabilities $ 84,569 $ 78,152 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities 37,786 32,170
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases consisted of the following: December 31, 2020 2019 Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases 4.5 years 4.8 years Weighted average discount rate for operating leases 2.6 % 3.0 %
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments	Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2020, were as follows (in thousands): 2021 $ 84,849 2022 71,119 2023 59,211 2024 47,478 2025 29,173 Thereafter 29,440 Less: Imputed interest (18,797) Present value of operating lease liabilities (a) $ 302,473 (a) Includes current portion of $78.6 million for operating leases.

Goodwill (Tables)

Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Activity in Goodwill	The following table sets forth the activity in goodwill from December 31, 2018, through December 31, 2020 (in thousands): Goodwill Temporary and consultant staffing Permanent placement staffing Risk consulting and internal audit services Total Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ 134,067 $ 26,058 $ 49,833 $ 209,958 Foreign currency translation adjustments 143 39 224 406 Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 134,210 $ 26,097 $ 50,057 $ 210,364 Acquisitions (a) — — 12,199 12,199 Foreign currency translation adjustments 301 83 108 492 Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 134,511 $ 26,180 $ 62,364 $ 223,055 (a) In December 2020 the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Protiviti, acquired Identropy, Inc., an independent security consulting firm specializing in advisory, implementation and managed services for identity, access management and access governance solutions. As part of the acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $12.2 million within its risk consulting and internal audit services segment.

Accrued Payroll and Benefit C_2

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Payroll Costs and Retirement Obligations	Accrued payroll and benefit costs consisted of the following (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Payroll and benefits 311,169 280,918 Payroll taxes 67,712 21,831 Workers’ compensation 18,996 19,655 Accrued payroll and benefit costs $ 397,877 $ 322,404

Employee Deferred Compensatio_2

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Deferred Compensation Plans [Abstract]
contribution plans and nonqualified plans	The following table presents the Company’s compensation expense related to its qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified plans (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Contribution expense $ 42,092 $ 26,122 $ 24,184 Employee deferred compensation expense (income) related to changes in the fair value of trust assets 75,188 54,917 (11,486) $ 117,280 $ 81,039 $ 12,698

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Current: Federal $ 79,926 $ 107,699 $ 99,830 State 27,401 39,028 38,356 Foreign 20,018 33,227 35,007 Deferred: Federal and state (9,089) (9,959) (15,849) Foreign (2,650) 1,087 (30) $ 115,606 $ 171,082 $ 157,314
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes	Income before the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Domestic $ 378,876 $ 545,695 $ 485,489 Foreign 43,006 79,820 106,113 $ 421,882 $ 625,515 $ 591,602
Difference of Income Taxes from Statutory Federal Income Tax Rates	The income taxes shown above varied from the statutory federal income tax rates for these periods as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Federal U.S. income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 4.9 4.9 4.7 Permanent book/tax differences 0.3 0.5 0.2 Compensation book/tax differences 1.3 0.6 0.4 Non-U.S. income taxed at different rates, net of foreign tax credits 1.7 2.1 2.0 Federal tax credits (1.5) (1.4) (1.7) Tax impact of uncertain tax positions 0.1 0.2 0.8 Tax effects of TCJA — — 0.4 Other, net (0.4) (0.5) (1.2) Effective tax rate 27.4 % 27.4 % 26.6 %
Deferred Portion of Tax Provision (Benefit)	The deferred portion of the tax (benefit) provision consisted of the following (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Accrued expenses, deducted for tax when paid $ (19,115) $ (17,797) $ (21,884) Capitalized costs for books, deducted for tax 1,904 3,246 (4,832) Depreciation 6,732 3,526 10,071 Other, net (1,260) 2,153 766 $ (11,739) $ (8,872) $ (15,879)
Components of Deferred Income Tax Amounts	The components of the deferred income tax amounts at December 31, 2020 and 2019, were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 Deferred Income Tax Assets Employee deferred compensation and other benefit obligations $ 102,478 $ 105,096 Deferred Payroll Taxes (CARES Act) 27,086 — Credits and net operating loss carryforwards 30,651 25,130 Stock-based compensation 3,637 7,805 Allowance for credit losses 5,272 7,944 Workers’ compensation 3,774 3,929 Operating lease liabilities 59,249 51,932 Other 13,361 10,256 Total deferred income tax assets 245,508 212,092 Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Amortization of intangible assets (24,163) (22,009) Property and equipment basis differences (25,555) (16,981) Right-of-use assets (49,833) (44,448) Other (8,922) (7,278) Total deferred income tax liabilities (108,473) (90,716) Valuation allowance (24,132) (21,618) Total deferred income tax assets, net $ 112,903 $ 99,758
Reconciliation of Total Amounts of Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits	The following table reconciles the total amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 (in thousands): December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Balance at beginning of period $ 9,354 $ 8,418 $ 2,886 Gross increases—tax positions in prior years 220 — 3,259 Gross decreases—tax positions in prior years — (760) (8) Gross increases—tax positions in current year 1,678 1,703 2,284 Settlements — (4) — Lapse of statute of limitations (1,467) (3) (3) Balance at end of period $ 9,785 $ 9,354 $ 8,418

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Equity [Abstract]
Number and Cost of Common Stock Shares Repurchased	The number and the cost of common stock shares repurchased during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Common stock repurchased (in shares) 2,505 4,253 5,614 Common stock repurchased $ 138,408 $ 250,154 $ 351,194
Number and Cost of Employee Stock Plan Repurchases	The number and the cost of employee stock plan repurchases made during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares) 366 352 235 Repurchases related to employee stock plans $ 17,399 $ 22,491 $ 13,674

Stock Plans (Tables)

Stock Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Activity Under All Stock Plans and Weighted Average Exercise Prices	The following table reflects activity under all stock plans from December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2020, and the weighted average exercise prices (in thousands, except per share amounts): Non-Executive Officer Time Based Awards Performance Based Awards with Market Conditions Performance Based Awards without Market Conditions Total Awards with Performance Condition Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Number of Weighted Outstanding, December 31, 2017 1,160 $ 45.75 616 $ 56.76 330 $ 47.45 946 $ 53.51 Granted 533 $ 57.16 — — 278 $ 56.83 278 $ 56.83 Restrictions lapsed (568) $ 47.62 (129) $ 71.86 — — (129) $ 71.86 Forfeited (40) $ 49.10 (129) $ 71.86 — — (129) $ 71.86 Outstanding, December 31, 2018 1,085 $ 50.24 358 $ 45.93 608 $51.74 966 $ 49.58 Granted 434 $ 66.66 236 $ 74.01 — — 236 $ 74.01 Restrictions lapsed (557) $ 50.29 (338) $ 45.93 — — (338) $ 45.93 Forfeited (15) $ 53.85 (20) $ 45.93 — — (20) $ 45.93 Outstanding, December 31, 2019 947 $ 57.67 236 $ 74.01 608 $ 51.74 844 $ 57.97 Granted 625 $ 54.92 223 $ 66.86 70 $ 47.45 293 $ 62.22 Restrictions lapsed (526) $ 54.57 — — (400) $ 47.45 (400) $ 47.45 Forfeited (26) $ 58.37 — — — — — — Outstanding, December 31, 2020 1,020 $ 57.57 459 $ 70.53 278 $ 56.83 737 $ 65.36

Net Income Per Share (Tables)

Net Income Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Calculation of Net Income Per Share	The calculation of net income per share for the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, are reflected in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Net income $ 306,276 $ 454,433 $ 434,288 Basic: Weighted average shares 112,729 115,656 120,513 Diluted: Weighted average shares 112,729 115,656 120,513 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 589 755 1,089 Diluted weighted average shares 113,318 116,411 121,602 Net income per share: Basic $ 2.72 $ 3.93 $ 3.60 Diluted $ 2.70 $ 3.90 $ 3.57

Business Segments (Tables)

Business Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income by Reportable Segment to Consolidated Results	The following table provides a reconciliation of service revenues and segment income by reportable segment to consolidated results (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Service revenues Temporary and consultant staffing $ 3,477,335 $ 4,412,125 $ 4,330,566 Permanent placement staffing 370,109 533,432 511,989 Risk consulting and internal audit services 1,261,556 1,128,875 957,716 $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 Segment income Temporary and consultant staffing $ 237,279 $ 410,153 $ 404,800 Permanent placement staffing 28,799 83,885 90,801 Risk consulting and internal audit services 155,680 127,713 93,324 Combined segment income 421,758 621,751 588,925 Amortization of intangible assets 1,219 1,361 1,705 Interest income, net (1,343) (5,125) (4,382) Income before income taxes $ 421,882 $ 625,515 $ 591,602
Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Location	The following tables represent revenues and long-lived assets by geographic location (in thousands): Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Service revenues (a) Domestic $ 3,984,742 $ 4,708,715 $ 4,433,767 Foreign (b) 1,124,258 1,365,717 1,366,504 $ 5,109,000 $ 6,074,432 $ 5,800,271 December 31, 2020 2019 2018 Property and equipment, net Domestic $ 88,117 $ 99,365 $ 96,169 Foreign 21,700 29,020 29,007 $ 109,817 $ 128,385 $ 125,176 (a) There were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total service revenues in any year presented. (b) No individual country represented more than 10% of revenues in any year presented.

Quarterly Financial Data (Una_2

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data	The following tabulation shows certain quarterly financial data for 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts): Quarter 2020 One Two Three Four Service revenues $ 1,506,691 $ 1,108,326 $ 1,189,897 $ 1,304,086 Gross margin $ 614,388 $ 416,535 $ 467,346 $ 514,342 Income before income taxes $ 131,763 $ 58,024 $ 102,510 $ 129,585 Net income $ 89,915 $ 46,196 $ 75,749 $ 94,416 Basic net income per share $ .79 $ .41 $ .67 $ .84 Diluted net income per share $ .79 $ .41 $ .67 $ .84 Quarter 2019 One Two Three Four Service revenues $ 1,468,530 $ 1,516,385 $ 1,552,132 $ 1,537,385 Gross margin $ 605,401 $ 636,589 $ 646,278 $ 636,861 Income before income taxes $ 147,383 $ 160,103 $ 163,782 $ 154,247 Net income $ 109,798 $ 114,612 $ 117,181 $ 112,842 Basic net income per share $ .94 $ .98 $ 1.02 $ .99 Diluted net income per share $ .93 $ .98 $ 1.01 $ .98

Subsequent Events (Tables)

Subsequent Events (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	On February 11, 2021, the Company announced the following: Quarterly dividend per share $ .38 Declaration date February 11, 2021 Record date February 25, 2021 Payment date March 15, 2021

Summary of Significant Accoun_4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)segment	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	3
Valuation allowance	$ 24,132	$ 21,618
Provision for workers' compensation claims threshold	500
Advertising Expense	$ 37,200	$ 54,300	$ 52,500
Minimum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amortized life assigned to identifiable intangible assets (in years)	2 years
Maximum
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amortized life assigned to identifiable intangible assets (in years)	5 years

Summary of Significant Accoun_5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Company's Income from Investments Held in Employee Deferred Compensation Trusts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Dividend income	$ (8,322)	$ (10,425)	$ (10,857)
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses	(66,866)	(44,492)	22,343
Deferred Compensation Plan, Investment Income	$ (75,188)	$ (54,917)	$ 11,486

Summary of Significant Accoun_6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Composition of Underlying Assets Comprising Company's Deferred Compensation Plans Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	$ 406,634	$ 398,442
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	406,634	398,442
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Money market funds
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	69,681	141,295
Money market funds | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	69,681	141,295
Money market funds | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Money market funds | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - bond
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	27,282	28,451
Mutual funds - bond | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	27,282	28,451
Mutual funds - bond | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - bond | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - stock
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	234,667	170,469
Mutual funds - stock | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	234,667	170,469
Mutual funds - stock | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - stock | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - blend
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	75,004	58,227
Mutual funds - blend | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	75,004	58,227
Mutual funds - blend | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	0	0
Mutual funds - blend | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets, Current	$ 0	$ 0

Summary of Significant Accoun_7

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Credit Losses (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning	$ 22,885
Charges to expense	4,200
Deductions	(7,906)
Other, including translation adjustments	(120)
Balance at end	19,617
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning	558
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning	$ 23,443

Summary of Significant Accoun_8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Property Plant and Equipment (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Computer hardware | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	2 years
Computer hardware | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Computer software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	2 years
Computer software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Furniture and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Furniture and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	5 years

Summary of Significant Accoun_9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Internal Use Software (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Capitalized internal-use software development costs	$ 40.6	$ 35.6	$ 3.3

Revenue Recognition - Schedule

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Revenue Disaggregated by Line of Business (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)segment	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment									3
Guarantee period									90 days
Service revenues	$ 1,304,086	$ 1,189,897	$ 1,108,326	$ 1,506,691	$ 1,537,385	$ 1,552,132	$ 1,516,385	$ 1,468,530	$ 5,109,000	$ 6,074,432	$ 5,800,271
Elimination of intersegment revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									(239,996)	(172,439)	(132,381)
Accountemps
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									1,558,024	1,985,221	1,941,544
OfficeTeam
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									764,947	1,040,755	1,065,427
Robert Half Technology
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									695,418	765,831	717,166
Robert Half Management Resources
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									698,942	792,757	738,810
Temporary and consultant staffing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									3,477,335	4,412,125	4,330,566
Permanent placement staffing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									370,109	533,432	511,989
Risk consulting and internal audit services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Service revenues									$ 1,261,556	$ 1,128,875	$ 957,716

Revenue Recognition - Remaining

Revenue Recognition - Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Contracts expected duration	one year
Aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations	$ 134.9	$ 81.7
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-01-01
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations	$ 123.6
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation, expected duration	12 months

Revenue Recognition - Schedul_2

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Contract Liability Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Contract Liabilities
Beginning balance	$ 12,948	$ 12,997	$ 9,003
Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations	25,614	13,030	12,170
Revenue recognized	(20,687)	(12,072)	(10,542)
Other, including translation adjustments	377	(1,007)	2,366
Ending balance	$ 18,252	$ 12,948	$ 12,997

Other Current Assets (Details)

Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Prepaid expenses	$ 97,674	$ 84,364
Other	49,841	42,768
Other current assets	$ 147,515	$ 127,132

Property and Equipment, Net (De

Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	$ 665,684	$ 695,008
Accumulated depreciation	(555,867)	(566,623)
Property and equipment, net	109,817	128,385	$ 125,176
Computer hardware
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	159,180	164,547
Computer software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	250,585	291,681
Furniture and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	91,112	88,136
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	$ 164,807	$ 150,644

Leases - Narrative (Details)

Leases - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Option to extend lease term	10 years	10 years
Option to terminate lease term		1 year
Rental expense	$ 81.5		$ 77.7
Rental expense				$ 89.4
Minimum
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Remaining lease terms	1 month	1 month
Maximum
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Remaining lease terms	9 years	9 years

Leases - Lease Cost and Other I

Leases - Lease Cost and Other Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash Flow, Operating Activities, Lessee [Abstract]
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$ 84,569	$ 78,152
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 37,786	$ 32,170
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases	4 years 6 months	4 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted average discount rate for operating leases	2.60%	3.00%

Leases - Future Minimum Lease P

Leases - Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Payment, Due [Abstract]
2021	$ 84,849
2022	71,119
2023	59,211
2024	47,478
2025	29,173
Thereafter	29,440
Less: Imputed interest	(18,797)
Present value of operating lease liabilities	302,473
Current operating lease liabilities	$ 78,604	$ 71,408

Goodwill (Details)

Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 210,364	$ 209,958
Foreign currency translation adjustments		492	406
Acquisitions			12,199
Ending balance	$ 223,055	223,055	210,364
Goodwill recorded as a result of acquisition			12,199
Temporary and consultant staffing
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		134,210	134,067
Foreign currency translation adjustments		301	143
Acquisitions			0
Ending balance	134,511	134,511	134,210
Goodwill recorded as a result of acquisition			0
Permanent placement staffing
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		26,097	26,058
Foreign currency translation adjustments		83	39
Acquisitions			0
Ending balance	26,180	26,180	26,097
Goodwill recorded as a result of acquisition			0
Risk consulting and internal audit services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		50,057	49,833
Foreign currency translation adjustments		108	224
Acquisitions	12,200		12,199
Ending balance	62,364	$ 62,364	50,057
Goodwill recorded as a result of acquisition	$ 12,200		$ 12,199

Accrued Payroll and Benefit C_3

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs - Accrued Payroll/Benefit Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Payroll and benefits	$ 311,169	$ 280,918
Payroll taxes	67,712	21,831
Workers’ compensation	18,996	19,655
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	$ 397,877	$ 322,404

Accrued Payroll and Benefit C_4

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs - Accrued Payroll/Benefit Costs and Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Deferred applicable payroll taxes	$ 102.2
Accrued Payroll Taxes	51.1
Other Liabilities	$ 51.1

Employee Deferred Compensatio_3

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	$ 435,121	$ 421,198
Nonqualified Plan
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Employee deferred compensation trust assets	406,600	398,400
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	$ 435,100	421,200
Nonqualified Plan | Chief Executive Officer
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations		$ 91,800

Employee Deferred Compensatio_4

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations - Compensation Expense Related to Qualified and Nonqualified Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred Compensation Plans [Abstract]
Contribution expense	$ 42,092	$ 26,122	$ 24,184
Employee deferred compensation expense (income) related to changes in the fair value of trust assets	75,188	54,917	(11,486)
Total compensation expense related to qualified defined contribution plans and nonqualified plans	$ 117,280	$ 81,039	$ 12,698

Notes Payable - Additional Info

Notes Payable - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
promissory note payable		$ 200,000	$ 500,000
Fixed interest rate		9.00%
Uncommitted letter of credit facility		$ 35,000,000
Debt support standby letters of credit		$ 17,000,000	16,800,000
Service fee percentage		1.50%
364 Day Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Uncommitted letter of credit facility	$ 100,000,000
Debt instrument term	364 days	364 days
Standby letters of credit used for collateral requirements
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 16,800,000	$ 16,300,000

Income Taxes - Provision for In

Income Taxes - Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current:
Federal	$ 79,926	$ 107,699	$ 99,830
State	27,401	39,028	38,356
Foreign	20,018	33,227	35,007
Deferred:
Federal and state	(9,089)	(9,959)	(15,849)
Foreign	(2,650)	1,087	(30)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ 115,606	$ 171,082	$ 157,314

Income Taxes - Income Before Pr

Income Taxes - Income Before Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic									$ 378,876	$ 545,695	$ 485,489
Foreign									43,006	79,820	106,113
Income before income taxes	$ 129,585	$ 102,510	$ 58,024	$ 131,763	$ 154,247	$ 163,782	$ 160,103	$ 147,383	$ 421,882	$ 625,515	$ 591,602

Income Taxes - Difference of In

Income Taxes - Difference of Income Taxes from Statutory Federal Income Tax Rates (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal U.S. income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	4.90%	4.90%	4.70%
Permanent book/tax differences	0.30%	0.50%	0.20%
Compensation book/tax differences	1.30%	0.60%	0.40%
Non-U.S. income taxed at different rates, net of foreign tax credits	1.70%	2.10%	2.00%
Federal tax credits	(1.50%)	(1.40%)	(1.70%)
Tax impact of uncertain tax positions	0.10%	0.20%	0.80%
Tax effects of TCJA	0.00%	0.00%	0.40%
Other, net	(0.40%)	(0.50%)	(1.20%)
Effective tax rate	27.40%	27.40%	26.60%

Income Taxes - Deferred Portion

Income Taxes - Deferred Portion of Tax Provision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued expenses, deducted for tax when paid	$ (19,115)	$ (17,797)	$ (21,884)
Capitalized costs for books, deducted for tax	1,904	3,246	(4,832)
Depreciation	6,732	3,526	10,071
Other, net	(1,260)	2,153	766
Deferred portion of the tax provision (benefit)	$ (11,739)	$ (8,872)	$ (15,879)

Income Taxes - Components of De

Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Income Tax Amounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Income Tax Assets
Employee deferred compensation and other benefit obligations	$ 102,478	$ 105,096
Deferred Payroll Taxes (CARES Act)	27,086	0
Credits and net operating loss carryforwards	30,651	25,130
Stock-based compensation	3,637	7,805
Allowance for credit losses	5,272	7,944
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	3,774	3,929
Operating lease liabilities	59,249	51,932
Other	13,361	10,256
Total deferred income tax assets	245,508	212,092
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Amortization of intangible assets	(24,163)	(22,009)
Property and equipment basis differences	(25,555)	(16,981)
Right-of-use assets	(49,833)	(44,448)
Other	(8,922)	(7,278)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(108,473)	(90,716)
Valuation allowance	(24,132)	(21,618)
Total deferred income tax assets, net	$ 112,903	$ 99,758

Income Taxes - Additional Infor

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Amount expected to be utilized of tax credit carry forwards expiring in the and beyond the stated year	$ 700
Valuation allowance	24,132	$ 21,618
Unrecognized tax benefits, impact on effective tax rate	9,800	9,300	$ 8,300
Accrued interest and penalties	500	500	$ 300
Increase (decrease) in income tax expense	100	$ 200
Foreign Countries
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	22,600
California Enterprise Zone
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	1,500
Foreign Countries
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards, foreign	27,600
California enterprise zone
Income Taxes [Line Items]
California enterprise zone tax credits	$ 2,200

Income Taxes - Reconciliation o

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Total Amounts of Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 9,354	$ 8,418	$ 2,886
Gross increases—tax positions in prior years	220	0	3,259
Gross decreases—tax positions in prior years	0	(760)	(8)
Gross increases—tax positions in current year	1,678	1,703	2,284
Settlements	0	(4)	0
Lapse of statute of limitations	(1,467)	(3)	(3)
Balance at end of period	$ 9,785	$ 9,354	$ 8,418

Stockholders' Equity - Addition

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) shares in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020shares
Equity [Abstract]
Shares remaining under existing repurchase program (in shares)	9.9

Stockholders' Equity - Number o

Stockholders' Equity - Number of Cost of Common Stock Shares Repurchased (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	2,505	4,253	5,614
Common stock repurchased	$ 138,408	$ 250,154	$ 351,194

Stockholders' Equity - Number a

Stockholders' Equity - Number and Cost of Employee Stock Plan Repurchases (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares)	366	352	235
Repurchases related to employee stock plans	$ 17,399	$ 22,491	$ 13,674

Stockholders' Equity - Cash Div

Stockholders' Equity - Cash Dividends Declared (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared per share (usd per share)	$ 1.36	$ 1.24	$ 1.12

Stock Plans - Additional Inform

Stock Plans - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period for grants	3 years
Historical volatility	26.44%
Dividend yield	0.00%
Risk-free interest rate	1.42%
Historical volatility	2 years 10 months 17 days
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized over the period	4 years
Total fair value of shares vested	$ 46.2	$ 57	$ 40.6
Total number of available shares to grant (in shares)	4.3
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Actual shares earned, possible percentage on target award	75.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Actual shares earned, possible percentage on target award	125.00%
Restricted stock and stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 73.9	$ 71.6	$ 65.6
Restricted stock and stock units | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period for grants	3 years
Restricted stock and stock units | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period for grants	4 years
ROIC Award | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Actual shares earned, possible percentage on target award	0.00%
ROIC Award | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Actual shares earned, possible percentage on target award	150.00%

Stock Plans - Activity Under Al

Stock Plans - Activity Under All Stock Plans and Weighted Average Exercise Prices (Details) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Non-Executive Officer Time Based Awards
Number of Shares/ Units
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares)	947	1,085	1,160
Granted (in shares)	625	434	533
Restrictions lapsed (in shares)	(526)	(557)	(568)
Forfeited (in shares)	(26)	(15)	(40)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	1,020	947	1,085
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding Beginning Balance (usd per share)	$ 57.67	$ 50.24	$ 45.75
Granted (usd per share)	54.92	66.66	57.16
Restrictions lapsed (usd per share)	54.57	50.29	47.62
Forfeited (usd per share)	58.37	53.85	49.10
Outstanding Ending Balance (usd per share)	$ 57.57	$ 57.67	$ 50.24
Performance Based Awards with Market Conditions
Number of Shares/ Units
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares)	236	358	616
Granted (in shares)	223	236	0
Restrictions lapsed (in shares)		(338)	(129)
Forfeited (in shares)		(20)	(129)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	459	236	358
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding Beginning Balance (usd per share)	$ 74.01	$ 45.93	$ 56.76
Granted (usd per share)	66.86	74.01	0
Restrictions lapsed (usd per share)	0	45.93	71.86
Forfeited (usd per share)	0	45.93	71.86
Outstanding Ending Balance (usd per share)	$ 70.53	$ 74.01	$ 45.93
Performance Based Awards without Market Conditions
Number of Shares/ Units
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares)	608	608	330
Granted (in shares)	70	0	278
Restrictions lapsed (in shares)	(400)	0	0
Forfeited (in shares)	0	0	0
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	278	608	608
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding Beginning Balance (usd per share)	$ 51.74	$ 51.74	$ 47.45
Granted (usd per share)	47.45	0	56.83
Restrictions lapsed (usd per share)	47.45	0	0
Forfeited (usd per share)	0	0	0
Outstanding Ending Balance (usd per share)	$ 56.83	$ 51.74	$ 51.74
Total Awards with Performance Condition
Number of Shares/ Units
Outstanding Beginning Balance (in shares)	844	966	946
Granted (in shares)	293	236	278
Restrictions lapsed (in shares)	(400)	(338)	(129)
Forfeited (in shares)	0	(20)	(129)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	737	844	966
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding Beginning Balance (usd per share)	$ 57.97	$ 49.58	$ 53.51
Granted (usd per share)	62.22	74.01	56.83
Restrictions lapsed (usd per share)	47.45	45.93	71.86
Forfeited (usd per share)	0	45.93	71.86
Outstanding Ending Balance (usd per share)	$ 65.36	$ 57.97	$ 49.58

Net Income Per Share - Calculat

Net Income Per Share - Calculation of Net Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 94,416	$ 75,749	$ 46,196	$ 89,915	$ 112,842	$ 117,181	$ 114,612	$ 109,798	$ 306,276	$ 454,433	$ 434,288
Basic:
Weighted average shares (in shares)									112,729	115,656	120,513
Diluted:
Weighted average shares (in shares)									112,729	115,656	120,513
Dilutive effect of potential common shares (in shares)									589	755	1,089
Diluted weighted average shares (in shares)									113,318	116,411	121,602
Net income per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.67	$ 0.41	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.02	$ 0.98	$ 0.94	$ 2.72	$ 3.93	$ 3.60
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.67	$ 0.41	$ 0.79	$ 0.98	$ 1.01	$ 0.98	$ 0.93	$ 2.70	$ 3.90	$ 3.57

Business Segments - Additional

Business Segments - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)segment	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment									3
Service revenues	$ (1,304,086)	$ (1,189,897)	$ (1,108,326)	$ (1,506,691)	$ (1,537,385)	$ (1,552,132)	$ (1,516,385)	$ (1,468,530)	$ (5,109,000)	$ (6,074,432)	$ (5,800,271)
Elimination of intersegment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service revenues									$ 239,996	$ 172,439	$ 132,381

Business Segments - Reconciliat

Business Segments - Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income by Reportable Segment to Consolidated Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service revenues	$ 1,304,086	$ 1,189,897	$ 1,108,326	$ 1,506,691	$ 1,537,385	$ 1,552,132	$ 1,516,385	$ 1,468,530	$ 5,109,000	$ 6,074,432	$ 5,800,271
Segment income									421,758	621,751	588,925
Amortization of intangible assets									1,219	1,361	1,705
Interest income, net									(1,343)	(5,125)	(4,382)
Income before income taxes	$ 129,585	$ 102,510	$ 58,024	$ 131,763	$ 154,247	$ 163,782	$ 160,103	$ 147,383	421,882	625,515	591,602
Temporary and consultant staffing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service revenues									3,477,335	4,412,125	4,330,566
Segment income									237,279	410,153	404,800
Permanent placement staffing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service revenues									370,109	533,432	511,989
Segment income									28,799	83,885	90,801
Risk consulting and internal audit services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Service revenues									1,261,556	1,128,875	957,716
Segment income									$ 155,680	$ 127,713	$ 93,324

Business Segments - Revenue and

Business Segments - Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Location (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Service revenues	$ 1,304,086	$ 1,189,897	$ 1,108,326	$ 1,506,691	$ 1,537,385	$ 1,552,132	$ 1,516,385	$ 1,468,530	$ 5,109,000	$ 6,074,432	$ 5,800,271
Property and equipment, net	109,817				128,385				109,817	128,385	125,176
Domestic
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Service revenues									3,984,742	4,708,715	4,433,767
Property and equipment, net	88,117				99,365				88,117	99,365	96,169
Foreign
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Service revenues									1,124,258	1,365,717	1,366,504
Property and equipment, net	$ 21,700				$ 29,020				$ 21,700	$ 29,020	$ 29,007

Quarterly Financial Data (Una_3

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 1,304,086	$ 1,189,897	$ 1,108,326	$ 1,506,691	$ 1,537,385	$ 1,552,132	$ 1,516,385	$ 1,468,530	$ 5,109,000	$ 6,074,432	$ 5,800,271
Gross margin	514,342	467,346	416,535	614,388	636,861	646,278	636,589	605,401	2,012,611	2,525,129	2,411,012
Income before income taxes	129,585	102,510	58,024	131,763	154,247	163,782	160,103	147,383	421,882	625,515	591,602
Net income	$ 94,416	$ 75,749	$ 46,196	$ 89,915	$ 112,842	$ 117,181	$ 114,612	$ 109,798	$ 306,276	$ 454,433	$ 434,288
Basic net income per share (usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.67	$ 0.41	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.02	$ 0.98	$ 0.94	$ 2.72	$ 3.93	$ 3.60
Diluted net income per share (usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.67	$ 0.41	$ 0.79	$ 0.98	$ 1.01	$ 0.98	$ 0.93	$ 2.70	$ 3.90	$ 3.57

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - $ / shares	Feb. 11, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend per share (usd per share)		$ 1.36	$ 1.24	$ 1.12
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend per share (usd per share)	$ 0.38

Schedule II - Valuation and Q_2

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2020	Jan. 01, 2018
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 28,756	$ 27,678	$ 23,682
Charged to Expenses	4,200	9,868	11,914
Deductions	(7,906)	(8,687)	(8,690)
Translation Adjustments	(120)	(103)	772
Balance at End of Period	19,617	28,756	27,678
Liability recognized in accordance with ASC 606	(19,617)	(28,756)	(27,678)	$ (23,443)
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Liability recognized in accordance with ASC 606					$ 9,500
Deferred tax valuation allowance
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	21,618	23,072	20,178
Charged to Expenses	3,462	719	5,683
Deductions	(2,333)	(2,154)	(2,599)
Translation Adjustments	1,385	(19)	(190)
Balance at End of Period	24,132	21,618	23,072
Liability recognized in accordance with ASC 606	$ (24,132)	$ (21,618)	$ (23,072)