Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

            Each person whose  signature  appears below  designates and appoints
WILLIAM W.  SHERERTZ,  MICHAEL D.  MULHOLLAND  and JAMES D. MILLER,  and each of
them,  his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents to sign a registration
statement on Form S-8 to be filed by Barrett Business Services, Inc., a Maryland
corporation,  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering 250,000 shares of common
stock of Barrett Business Services,  Inc., and options and other awards relating
thereto to be issued pursuant to the Barrett Business Services, Inc., 1993 Stock
Incentive Plan, together with any and all amendments  (including  post-effective
amendments) to the registration  statement.  Each person whose signature appears
below also grants full power and authority to these attorneys-in-fact and agents
to take any action and  execute  any  instruments  that they deem  necessary  or
desirable in  connection  with the  preparation  and filing of the  registration
statement,  as fully as he could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming
all that the  attorneys-in-fact  and agents or their substitutes may lawfully do
or cause to be done.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this power of attorney has been executed by each
of the undersigned as of the 8th day of November, 2000.

Signature                                             Title


/s/William W. Sherertz                             President and Director
- ------------------------------------              (Principal Executive Officer)
William W. Sherertz


/s/Michael D. Mulholland                           Vice President-Finance
- ------------------------------                     and Secretary
Michael D. Mulholland                             (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/James D. Miller                                 Controller and
- ------------------------------                     Assistant Secretary
James D. Miller                                   (Principal Accounting Officer)



/s/Robert R. Ames                                  Director
- ------------------------------
Robert R. Ames


/s/Richard W. Godard                               Director
- ------------------------------
Richard W. Godard


/s/Anthony Meeker                                  Director
- ------------------------------
Anthony Meeker


/s/Nancy B. Sherertz                               Director
- ------------------------------
Nancy B. Sherertz