EXHIBIT 99.3

     NOTICE OF GRANT OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION - MR. SAMUELSON


                         WESTERN STAFF SERVICES, INC.

                              NOTICE OF GRANT OF
                      NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION

     Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option") to 
purchase shares of the Common Stock of Western Staff Services, Inc. (the 
"Corporation"):

     OPTIONEE: Jack D. Samuelson

     GRANT DATE: November 1, 1996

     EXERCISE PRICE: $ 14.25 per share

     NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES: 1,500 shares

     EXPIRATION DATE: October 31, 2006

     TYPE OF OPTION: Non-Statutory Stock Option

     EXERCISE SCHEDULE: The option shall become fully exercisable for all the
     Option Shares upon Optionee's completion of one (1) year of service as a
     member of the Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board") measured from
     the Grant Date. In no event shall the Option become exercisable for any
     additional Option Shares after Optionee's cessation of Board service.

     Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted subject to 
and in accordance with the terms of the Option as set forth in the 
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") 
attached hereto as Exhibit A, and Optionee agrees to be bound by all those 
terms. Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of the prospectus for the Option 
in the form attached hereto a Exhibit B.

     DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the meaning 
assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Option Agreement.



     NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Notice or the attached Option 
Agreement shall interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of 
the Corporation and the Corporation's stockholders to remove Optionee from 
the Board at any time in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.

DATED: NOVEMBER 1, 1996

                                       WESTERN STAFF SERVICES, INC.

                                        /s/ W. Robert Stover
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       W. Robert Stover
                       Title:          Chief Executive Officer


                                        /s/ Jack D. Samuelson
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       OPTIONEE  Jack D. Samuelson 

                       Address:         5000 Edenhurst Avenue
                                       -----------------------------------------

                                        Los Angeles, CA 90039
                                       -----------------------------------------



ATTACHMENTS
EXHIBIT A - NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B - OPTION PROSPECTUS

                                      2.