POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose  signature  appears below  designates and appoints  WILLIAM W.
SHERERTZ  and  MICHAEL  D.  MULHOLLAND,  and  either  of them,  true and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and agents to sign the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Barrett
Business Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation, for the year ended December 31,
1997, and to file said report,  with all exhibits  thereto,  with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. Each person
whose  signature  appears  below also grants full power and  authority  to these
attorneys-in-fact  and agents to perform  every act and execute any  instruments
that they deem necessary or desirable in connection  with said report,  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 11th day of March, 1998.

SIGNATURE                           TITLE


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

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

/s/ James D. Miller                 Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
James D. Miller

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

/s/ Herbert L. Hochberg             Director
Herbert L. Hochberg

/s/ Anthony Meeker                  Director
Anthony Meeker

/s/ Stanley G. Renecker             Director
Stanley G. Renecker