Robert Half International (RHI) 10-Q 1 Nov 18 2018 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018shares
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	RHI
Entity Registrant Name	HALF ROBERT INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	315,213
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	121,475,032

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 361,740	$ 294,753
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $24,873 and $33,181	834,347	732,405
Other current assets	416,313	404,711
Total current assets	1,612,400	1,431,869
Goodwill	210,481	210,885
Other intangible assets, net	3,547	4,946
Property and equipment, net	125,175	144,887
Deferred income taxes	83,304	74,867
Total assets	2,034,907	1,867,454
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	167,197	126,937
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	718,956	612,899
Income taxes payable	9,932	7,877
Current portion of notes payable and other indebtedness	195	183
Total current liabilities	896,280	747,896
Notes payable and other indebtedness, less current portion	509	657
Other liabilities	18,876	13,636
Total liabilities	915,665	762,189
Commitments and Contingencies (Note G)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $.001 par value authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding zero shares	0	0
Common stock, $.001 par value authorized 260,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 121,375,014 shares and 124,261,458 shares	121	124
Capital surplus	1,097,600	1,064,601
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(9,792)	3,507
Retained earnings	31,313	37,033
Total stockholders’ equity	1,119,242	1,105,265
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 2,034,907	$ 1,867,454

Condensed Consolidated Statem_2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowances	$ 24,873	$ 33,181
Preferred stock, par value (in 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
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in usd per shares)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	260,000,000	260,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	121,375,014	124,261,458
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	121,375,014	124,261,458

Condensed Consolidated Statem_3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenues	$ 1,466,226	$ 1,324,709	$ 4,318,613	$ 3,920,507
Direct costs of services, consisting of payroll, payroll taxes, benefit costs and reimbursable expenses	855,758	778,309	2,528,661	2,309,841
Gross margin	610,468	546,400	1,789,952	1,610,666
Selling, general and administrative expenses	459,330	414,179	1,354,936	1,222,149
Amortization of intangible assets	429	481	1,334	1,147
Interest income, net	(1,196)	(530)	(2,937)	(1,108)
Income before income taxes	151,905	132,270	436,619	388,478
Provision for income taxes	36,663	47,570	115,895	144,941
Net income	$ 115,242	$ 84,700	$ 320,724	$ 243,537
Net income per share:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.69	$ 2.65	$ 1.96
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.68	$ 2.62	$ 1.94
Shares:
Basic (in shares)	120,115	123,569	121,112	124,567
Diluted (in shares)	121,443	124,200	122,193	125,233
Cash dividends declared per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.24	$ 0.84	$ 0.72

Condensed Consolidated Statem_4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net income	$ 115,242	$ 84,700	$ 320,724	$ 243,537
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(3,383)	7,210	(13,299)	22,206
Total comprehensive income	$ 111,859	$ 91,910	$ 307,425	$ 265,743

Condensed Consolidated Statem_5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	COMMON STOCK	CAPITAL SURPLUS	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	RETAINED EARNINGS
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		127,797
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net issuances of restricted stock (in shares)		818
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(3,268)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		125,347
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 128	$ 1,022,411	$ (20,502)	$ 84,562
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net issuances of restricted stock		1	(1)
Net income	$ 243,537				243,537
Repurchases of common stock		(4)			(152,650)
Stock-based compensation expense			31,163
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	22,206			22,206
Cash dividends ($.84 per share and $.72 per share)					(91,033)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2017		$ 125	1,053,573	1,704	84,416
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		124,261
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net issuances of restricted stock (in shares)		523
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(3,409)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		121,375
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 issuances of restricted stock		1	(1)
Net income	320,724				320,724
Repurchases of common stock		(4)			(223,440)
Stock-based compensation expense			33,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(13,299)			(13,299)
Cash dividends ($.84 per share and $.72 per share)					(103,004)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 1,119,242	$ 121	$ 1,097,600	$ (9,792)	$ 31,313

Condensed Consolidated Statem_6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
RETAINED EARNINGS
Cash dividends, per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.72

Condensed Consolidated Statem_7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 320,724	$ 243,537
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of intangible assets	1,334	1,147
Depreciation expense	48,344	47,916
Stock-based compensation expense—restricted stock and stock units	33,000	31,163
Deferred income taxes	(8,427)	(13,309)
Provision for doubtful accounts	8,210	5,327
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable	(119,096)	(21,810)
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued payroll and benefit costs	131,874	65,745
Increase in income taxes payable	18,339	32,320
Change in other assets, net of change in other liabilities	14,975	(3,573)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	449,277	388,463
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(1,699)
Capital expenditures	(27,186)	(28,540)
Payments to trusts for employee deferred compensation plans	(27,984)	(23,837)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(55,170)	(54,076)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repurchases of common stock	(216,401)	(167,342)
Cash dividends paid	(102,696)	(91,078)
Payments for notes payable and other indebtedness	(136)	(124)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(319,233)	(258,544)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,887)	12,292
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	66,987	88,135
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	294,753	260,201
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	361,740	348,336
Non-cash items:
Stock repurchases awaiting settlement	$ 7,043	$ 0

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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 temporary, full-time, and senior-level project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support professionals. Robert Half Technology provides project and full-time technology professionals. Robert Half Legal provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel. The Creative Group provides creative, digital, 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, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. 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 unaudited Condensed 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”). The comparative year-end condensed consolidated statement of financial position data presented was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017 , included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of, nor comparable to, the results of operations for a full year. Principles of Consolidation. The Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany balances have been eliminated. 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. As of September 30, 2018 , such estimates included allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, workers’ compensation losses, and income and other taxes. Management estimates are also utilized 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. Revenue Recognition. Revenues from contracts with customers are generated in 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 revenue recognition and disaggregation of revenues. Advertising Costs. The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Advertising costs $ 12,629 $ 12,051 $ 40,126 $ 35,747

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The new guidance requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted the new guidance, using the modified retrospective method applied to all contracts not completed as of January 1, 2018, and since the adoption of the new guidance was not material, no adjustment was made to opening retained earnings. The Company also had no significant changes to systems, processes, or controls. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's income statement. In accordance with the new guidance, the Company reclassified certain allowances that are now reflected as liabilities. The impact to the Company’s balance sheet is as follows (in thousands): September 30, 2018 As Reported Balances Without Adoption of Revenue Guidance Effect of Change Higher (Lower) Assets Accounts receivable, net $ 834,347 $ 823,156 $ 11,191 Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 167,197 $ 156,006 $ 11,191 Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments in Statement of Cash Flows. In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance designed to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows, including: i) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; ii) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; and iii) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Stock Compensation. In May 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance updating which changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under the amended guidance, entities are required to account for the effects of a modification if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification (as an equity instrument or a liability instrument) of the modified award change from that of the original award immediately before the modification. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted Current Expected Credit Losses Model. In June 2016, the 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 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Lease Accounting. In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes financial reporting as it relates to leasing transactions. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted for all entities upon issuance. Lessees and lessors may elect to apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements; or they may elect to apply the provisions of the guidance, using a prospective approach, beginning at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings in the period of adoption. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019, and the Company intends to implement the new standard using a prospective approach. Upon adoption, the Company expects to elect the package of practical expedients available under the new standard, which allows the Company to forgo a reassessment of (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company expects that the impact of the adoption of the guidance will be material to its consolidated statement of financial position, and will require certain changes to its systems and processes. 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 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its financial statements. Cloud Computing. In August 2018, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Entities are required to present the expense related to capitalized implementation costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as the fees associated with the hosting elements of the arrangement and classify the payments for the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. Entities are also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of financial position in the same line item that a prepayment of the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented. The new guidance is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenues from contracts with customers are generated in 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. Net service revenues, as presented on the unaudited Condensed 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 recorded on a gross basis and included in net service revenues, with equivalent amounts of reimbursable expenses included in direct 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 temporary employees. 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. Employees placed on temporary 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. 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 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 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. 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. The following table presents the Company's revenues disaggregated by line of business (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Accountemps $ 479,415 $ 443,376 $ 1,431,567 $ 1,319,649 OfficeTeam 265,235 246,207 794,749 726,755 Robert Half Technology 176,552 157,038 508,060 472,309 Robert Half Management Resources 162,564 158,187 503,652 471,997 Temporary and consulting staffing 1,083,766 1,004,808 3,238,028 2,990,710 Permanent placement staffing 129,667 111,333 386,105 327,619 Risk consulting and internal audit services 252,793 208,568 694,480 602,178 Net service revenues $ 1,466,226 $ 1,324,709 $ 4,318,613 $ 3,920,507 Payment terms in our contracts vary by the type and location of our 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 September 30, 2018 , aggregate transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied for contracts with an expected duration of greater than one year was $84.8 million . Of this amount, $77.4 million is expected to be recognized within the next twelve months . There were no revenues recognized in the quarter ended, or the nine months ended, September 30, 2018 , related to performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods. Contract assets are recorded when services are performed in advance of the Company’s unconditional right to payment. Contract assets as of January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018 , were not material. 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 unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The following table sets forth the activity in contract liabilities from January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 (in thousands): September 30, Balance at beginning of period $ 9,003 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 10,733 Revenue recognized (9,131 ) Other, including translation adjustments (1,673 ) Balance at end of period $ 8,932

Other Current Assets

Other Current Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Current Assets	Other Current Assets Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Deposits in trusts for employee deferred compensation plans $ 332,924 $ 292,326 Other 83,389 112,385 Other current assets $ 416,313 $ 404,711

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment, Net	Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Computer hardware $ 173,082 $ 171,515 Computer software 379,605 376,761 Furniture and equipment 105,123 102,424 Leasehold improvements 154,272 148,764 Other 10,289 9,907 Property and equipment, cost 822,371 809,371 Accumulated depreciation (697,196 ) (664,484 ) Property and equipment, net $ 125,175 $ 144,887

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Cos

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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): September 30, December 31, 2017 Payroll and benefits $ 311,442 $ 256,804 Employee deferred compensation plans 348,364 312,429 Workers’ compensation 19,010 17,092 Payroll taxes 40,140 26,574 Accrued payroll and benefit costs $ 718,956 $ 612,899 Included in employee deferred compensation plans is the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Deferred compensation plan and other benefits related to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer $ 88,065 $ 86,145

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies On March 13, 2014, Plaintiff Leonor Rodriguez, 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 Diego County. The complaint alleged that a putative class of current and former employees of the Company working in California since March 13, 2011 were denied compensation for the time they spent interviewing with clients of the Company as well as performing activities related to the interview process. Rodriguez sought recovery on her own behalf and on behalf of the putative class in an unspecified amount for this allegedly unpaid compensation. Rodriguez also sought recovery of an unspecified amount for the alleged failure of the Company to provide her and the putative class with accurate wage statements, as well as an unspecified amount of other damages, attorneys’ fees, and statutory penalties, including but not limited to statutory penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “aggrieved employees” as defined by California’s Labor Code Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”). On October 10, 2014, the Court granted a motion by the Company to compel all of Rodriguez’s claims, except the PAGA claim, to individual arbitration. On September 11, 2018, the parties settled the individual arbitration claims for an amount immaterial to the Company and, on October 19, 2018, the Court dismissed the PAGA claim with prejudice. Accordingly, the Company will not make disclosures regarding this case in its future SEC filings. 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, which was filed by the same plaintiffs’ law firm that brought the Rodriguez matter described above, alleges claims similar to those alleged in Rodriguez . Specifically, 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 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 California’s Labor Code Private Attorney General Act (“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	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders' Equity Stock Repurchase Program. As of September 30, 2018 , the Company is authorized to repurchase, from time to time, up to 9.1 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 nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 Common stock repurchased (in shares) 3,255 2,957 Common stock repurchased $ 214,502 $ 137,596 Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of exercise price and applicable statutory withholding taxes. The number and the cost of repurchases related to employee stock plans made during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares) 154 311 Repurchases related to employee stock plans $ 8,942 $ 15,058 The repurchased shares are held in treasury and are presented as if constructively retired. Treasury stock is accounted for using the cost method. Repurchase activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , is presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Repurchases of shares and issuances of cash dividends are applied first to the extent of retained earnings and any remaining amounts are applied to capital surplus.

Net Income Per Share

Net Income Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income Per Share	Net Income Per Share The calculation of net income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is reflected in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net income $ 115,242 $ 84,700 $ 320,724 $ 243,537 Basic: Weighted average shares 120,115 123,569 121,112 124,567 Diluted: Weighted average shares 120,115 123,569 121,112 124,567 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 1,328 631 1,081 666 Diluted weighted average shares 121,443 124,200 122,193 125,233 Net income per share: Basic $ .96 $ .69 $ 2.65 $ 1.96 Diluted $ .95 $ .68 $ 2.62 $ 1.94

Business Segments

Business Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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. 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” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The Company evaluates performance based on income from operations before net interest income, intangible asset amortization expense, and income taxes. The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and operating income by reportable segment to consolidated results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net service revenues Temporary and consultant staffing $ 1,083,766 $ 1,004,808 $ 3,238,028 $ 2,990,710 Permanent placement staffing 129,667 111,333 386,105 327,619 Risk consulting and internal audit services 252,793 208,568 694,480 602,178 $ 1,466,226 $ 1,324,709 $ 4,318,613 $ 3,920,507 Operating income Temporary and consultant staffing $ 102,707 $ 87,703 $ 303,000 $ 271,162 Permanent placement staffing 22,895 19,945 72,710 59,293 Risk consulting and internal audit services 25,536 24,573 59,306 58,062 151,138 132,221 435,016 388,517 Amortization of intangible assets 429 481 1,334 1,147 Interest income, net (1,196 ) (530 ) (2,937 ) (1,108 ) Income before income taxes $ 151,905 $ 132,270 $ 436,619 $ 388,478

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The provision for income taxes was 24.1% and 36.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The provision for income taxes was 26.5% and 37.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The lower tax rate is primarily due to the reduction of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018. The Company recognized the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) in its audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides SEC staff guidance for the application of income tax guidance in the reporting period in which the TCJA was signed into law. The guidance also provides for a measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date for the Company to complete the accounting for the U.S. tax law changes. As such, the Company’s 2017 financial results reflected the provisional amounts and an estimate of the income tax effects of the TCJA. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company recorded charges of $5 million to its income tax provision related to the transition tax on its total post-1986 foreign earnings and profits. The estimate of the impact of TCJA is based on certain assumptions and the Company's current interpretation, which may change, as the Company receives additional clarification and implementation guidance and as the interpretation of the TCJA evolves over time. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax, or any additional outside basis differences inherent in our foreign entities, as the Company is still in the process of evaluating its foreign cash needs, and how much, if any, of the amount of earnings should be considered indefinitely reinvested. While the Company does not anticipate any remaining adjustments to TCJA, the measurement period under SAB 118 remains open as there is still the possibility of new guidance clarifying certain aspects of TCJA. Any subsequent adjustment to these amounts will be recorded to income tax provision in the fourth quarter of 2018 when the full analysis is complete.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events The Company’s prior filings contained disclosures regarding a complaint filed on March 13, 2014, in the Superior Court of California, San Diego County, by Plaintiff Leonor Rodriguez, on her own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of allegedly similarly situated individuals, alleging various claims against the Company including a claim under the California Labor Code Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”). On October 10, 2014, the Court granted a motion by the Company to compel all of Rodriguez’s claims, except the PAGA claim, to individual arbitration. On September 11, 2018, the parties settled the individual arbitration claims for an amount immaterial to the Company and, on October 19, 2018, the Court dismissed the PAGA claim with prejudice. Accordingly, the Company will not make disclosures regarding this case in its future SEC filings. On October 30, 2018 , the Company announced the following: Quarterly dividend per share $.28 Declaration date October 30, 2018 Record date November 23, 2018 Payment date December 14, 2018

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	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 temporary, full-time, and senior-level project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support professionals. Robert Half Technology provides project and full-time technology professionals. Robert Half Legal provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel. The Creative Group provides creative, digital, 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, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. 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	Basis of Presentation. The unaudited Condensed 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”). The comparative year-end condensed consolidated statement of financial position data presented was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017 , included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of, nor comparable to, the results of operations for a full year.
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 have been eliminated.
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. As of September 30, 2018 , such estimates included allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, workers’ compensation losses, and income and other taxes. Management estimates are also utilized 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.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition. Revenues from contracts with customers are generated in 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 revenue recognition and disaggregation of revenues.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Costs. The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.
New Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The new guidance requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments in Statement of Cash Flows. In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance designed to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows, including: i) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; ii) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; and iii) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Stock Compensation. In May 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance updating which changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under the amended guidance, entities are required to account for the effects of a modification if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification (as an equity instrument or a liability instrument) of the modified award change from that of the original award immediately before the modification. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted Current Expected Credit Losses Model. In June 2016, the 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 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Lease Accounting. In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes financial reporting as it relates to leasing transactions. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted for all entities upon issuance. Lessees and lessors may elect to apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements; or they may elect to apply the provisions of the guidance, using a prospective approach, beginning at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings in the period of adoption. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019, and the Company intends to implement the new standard using a prospective approach. Upon adoption, the Company expects to elect the package of practical expedients available under the new standard, which allows the Company to forgo a reassessment of (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) the initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company expects that the impact of the adoption of the guidance will be material to its consolidated statement of financial position, and will require certain changes to its systems and processes. 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 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its financial statements. Cloud Computing. In August 2018, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Entities are required to present the expense related to capitalized implementation costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as the fees associated with the hosting elements of the arrangement and classify the payments for the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. Entities are also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in the statement of financial position in the same line item that a prepayment of the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented. The new guidance is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, although early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Commitments and Contingencies	Legal costs associated with the resolution of claims, lawsuits and other contingencies are expensed as incurred.
Treasury Stock	The repurchased shares are held in treasury and are presented as if constructively retired. Treasury stock is accounted for using the cost method. Repurchase activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , is presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Repurchases of shares and issuances of cash dividends are applied first to the extent of retained earnings and any remaining amounts are applied to capital surplus.

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Advertising Costs	Advertising costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Advertising costs $ 12,629 $ 12,051 $ 40,126 $ 35,747

New Accounting Pronouncements (

New Accounting Pronouncements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Schedule of Impact of Adoption	The impact to the Company’s balance sheet is as follows (in thousands): September 30, 2018 As Reported Balances Without Adoption of Revenue Guidance Effect of Change Higher (Lower) Assets Accounts receivable, net $ 834,347 $ 823,156 $ 11,191 Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 167,197 $ 156,006 $ 11,191

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
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): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Accountemps $ 479,415 $ 443,376 $ 1,431,567 $ 1,319,649 OfficeTeam 265,235 246,207 794,749 726,755 Robert Half Technology 176,552 157,038 508,060 472,309 Robert Half Management Resources 162,564 158,187 503,652 471,997 Temporary and consulting staffing 1,083,766 1,004,808 3,238,028 2,990,710 Permanent placement staffing 129,667 111,333 386,105 327,619 Risk consulting and internal audit services 252,793 208,568 694,480 602,178 Net service revenues $ 1,466,226 $ 1,324,709 $ 4,318,613 $ 3,920,507
Schedule of Contract Liability Activity	The following table sets forth the activity in contract liabilities from January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 (in thousands): September 30, Balance at beginning of period $ 9,003 Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations 10,733 Revenue recognized (9,131 ) Other, including translation adjustments (1,673 ) Balance at end of period $ 8,932

Other Current Assets (Tables)

Other Current Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Current Assets	Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Deposits in trusts for employee deferred compensation plans $ 332,924 $ 292,326 Other 83,389 112,385 Other current assets $ 416,313 $ 404,711

Property and Equipment, Net (Ta

Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Components of Property and Equipment	Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Computer hardware $ 173,082 $ 171,515 Computer software 379,605 376,761 Furniture and equipment 105,123 102,424 Leasehold improvements 154,272 148,764 Other 10,289 9,907 Property and equipment, cost 822,371 809,371 Accumulated depreciation (697,196 ) (664,484 ) Property and equipment, net $ 125,175 $ 144,887

Accrued Payroll and Benefit C_2

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Payroll Costs and Retirement Obligations	Accrued payroll and benefit costs consisted of the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Payroll and benefits $ 311,442 $ 256,804 Employee deferred compensation plans 348,364 312,429 Workers’ compensation 19,010 17,092 Payroll taxes 40,140 26,574 Accrued payroll and benefit costs $ 718,956 $ 612,899
Employee Retirement Obligations	Included in employee deferred compensation plans is the following (in thousands): September 30, December 31, 2017 Deferred compensation plan and other benefits related to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer $ 88,065 $ 86,145

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Number and Cost of Common Stock Shares Repurchased	The number and the cost of common stock shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 Common stock repurchased (in shares) 3,255 2,957 Common stock repurchased $ 214,502 $ 137,596
Number and Cost of Employee Stock Plan Repurchases	The number and the cost of repurchases related to employee stock plans made during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , are reflected in the following table (in thousands): Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares) 154 311 Repurchases related to employee stock plans $ 8,942 $ 15,058

Net Income Per Share (Tables)

Net Income Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Calculation of Net Income Per Share	The calculation of net income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is reflected in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net income $ 115,242 $ 84,700 $ 320,724 $ 243,537 Basic: Weighted average shares 120,115 123,569 121,112 124,567 Diluted: Weighted average shares 120,115 123,569 121,112 124,567 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 1,328 631 1,081 666 Diluted weighted average shares 121,443 124,200 122,193 125,233 Net income per share: Basic $ .96 $ .69 $ 2.65 $ 1.96 Diluted $ .95 $ .68 $ 2.62 $ 1.94

Business Segments (Tables)

Business Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income by Reportable Segment to Consolidated Results	The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and operating income by reportable segment to consolidated results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net service revenues Temporary and consultant staffing $ 1,083,766 $ 1,004,808 $ 3,238,028 $ 2,990,710 Permanent placement staffing 129,667 111,333 386,105 327,619 Risk consulting and internal audit services 252,793 208,568 694,480 602,178 $ 1,466,226 $ 1,324,709 $ 4,318,613 $ 3,920,507 Operating income Temporary and consultant staffing $ 102,707 $ 87,703 $ 303,000 $ 271,162 Permanent placement staffing 22,895 19,945 72,710 59,293 Risk consulting and internal audit services 25,536 24,573 59,306 58,062 151,138 132,221 435,016 388,517 Amortization of intangible assets 429 481 1,334 1,147 Interest income, net (1,196 ) (530 ) (2,937 ) (1,108 ) Income before income taxes $ 151,905 $ 132,270 $ 436,619 $ 388,478

Subsequent Events (Tables)

Subsequent Events (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	On October 30, 2018 , the Company announced the following: Quarterly dividend per share $.28 Declaration date October 30, 2018 Record date November 23, 2018 Payment date December 14, 2018

Summary of Significant Accoun_4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)segment	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Advertising costs | $	$ 12,629	$ 12,051	$ 40,126	$ 35,747

New Accounting Pronouncements -

New Accounting Pronouncements - Schedule of Impact of Adoption (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	$ 834,347	$ 732,405
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	167,197	$ 126,937
Balances Without Adoption of Revenue Guidance | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	823,156
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	156,006
Effect of Change Higher (Lower) | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	11,191
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$ 11,191

Revenue Recognition - Schedule

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Revenue Disaggregated by Line of Business (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)segment	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Guarantee Period			90 days
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Net service revenues	$ 1,466,226	$ 1,324,709	$ 4,318,613	$ 3,920,507
Accountemps
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	479,415	443,376	1,431,567	1,319,649
OfficeTeam
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	265,235	246,207	794,749	726,755
Robert Half Technology
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	176,552	157,038	508,060	472,309
Robert Half Management Resources
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	162,564	158,187	503,652	471,997
Temporary and consulting staffing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	1,083,766	1,004,808	3,238,028	2,990,710
Permanent placement staffing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	129,667	111,333	386,105	327,619
Risk consulting and internal audit services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net service revenues	$ 252,793	$ 208,568	$ 694,480	$ 602,178

Revenue Recognition - Remaining

Revenue Recognition - Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations	$ 84.8
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2018-10-01
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations	$ 77.4
Remaining performance obligation, expected duration	12 months

Revenue Recognition - Schedul_2

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Contract Liability Activity (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Change in Contract with Customer, Liability [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 9,003
Payments in advance of satisfaction of performance obligations	10,733
Revenue recognized	(9,131)
Other, including translation adjustments	(1,673)
Balance at end of period	$ 8,932

Other Current Assets (Detail)

Other Current Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Deposits in trusts for employee deferred compensation plans	$ 332,924	$ 292,326
Other	83,389	112,385
Other current assets	$ 416,313	$ 404,711

Property and Equipment, Net - C

Property and Equipment, Net - Components of Property and Equipment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	$ 822,371	$ 809,371
Accumulated depreciation	(697,196)	(664,484)
Property and equipment, net	125,175	144,887
Computer hardware
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	173,082	171,515
Computer software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	379,605	376,761
Furniture and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	105,123	102,424
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	154,272	148,764
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, cost	$ 10,289	$ 9,907

Accrued Payroll and Benefit C_3

Accrued Payroll and Benefit Costs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Payroll and benefits	$ 311,442	$ 256,804
Employee deferred compensation plans	348,364	312,429
Workers’ compensation	19,010	17,092
Payroll taxes	40,140	26,574
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	718,956	612,899
Chief Executive Officer
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred compensation plan and other benefits related to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer	$ 88,065	$ 86,145

Commitments and Contingencies -

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Jessica Gentry
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency	$ 0
Shari Dorff
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency	$ 0

Stockholders' Equity - Addition

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018shares
Equity [Abstract]
Maximum number of shares authorized to be repurchased	9.1

Stockholders' Equity - Number a

Stockholders' Equity - Number and Cost of Common Stock Shares Repurchased (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	3,255	2,957
Common stock repurchased	$ 214,502	$ 137,596

Stockholders' Equity - Number_2

Stockholders' Equity - Number and Cost of Employee Stock Plan Repurchases (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Repurchases related to employee stock plans (in shares)	154	311
Repurchases related to employee stock plans	$ 8,942	$ 15,058

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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 115,242	$ 84,700	$ 320,724	$ 243,537
Basic:
Weighted average shares (in shares)	120,115	123,569	121,112	124,567
Diluted:
Weighted average shares (in shares)	120,115	123,569	121,112	124,567
Dilutive effect of potential common shares (in shares)	1,328	631	1,081	666
Diluted weighted average shares (in shares)	121,443	124,200	122,193	125,233
Net income per share:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.69	$ 2.65	$ 1.96
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.68	$ 2.62	$ 1.94

Business Segments - Additional

Business Segments - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3

Business Segments - Reconciliat

Business Segments - Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income by Reportable Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenues	$ 1,466,226	$ 1,324,709	$ 4,318,613	$ 3,920,507
Operating income	151,138	132,221	435,016	388,517
Amortization of intangible assets	429	481	1,334	1,147
Interest income, net	(1,196)	(530)	(2,937)	(1,108)
Income before income taxes	151,905	132,270	436,619	388,478
Operating Segments | Temporary and consultant staffing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenues	1,083,766	1,004,808	3,238,028	2,990,710
Operating income	102,707	87,703	303,000	271,162
Operating Segments | Permanent placement staffing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenues	129,667	111,333	386,105	327,619
Operating income	22,895	19,945	72,710	59,293
Operating Segments | Risk consulting and internal audit services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenues	252,793	208,568	694,480	602,178
Operating income	$ 25,536	$ 24,573	$ 59,306	$ 58,062

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Provision for income tax (percent)	24.10%	36.00%	26.50%	37.30%
Recorded charge to adjust provisional tax amount			$ 5

Subsequent Events - Dividend An

Subsequent Events - Dividend Announced (Details) - $ / shares	Oct. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend per share (in usd per share)		$ 0.28	$ 0.24	$ 0.84	$ 0.72
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.28
Declaration date	Oct. 30, 2018
Record date	Nov. 23, 2018
Payment date	Dec. 14, 2018