Stock-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

12.   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 and 2010, stock-based compensation expense was reflected in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2011		2010		2011		2010
Cost of services	$	659	$	447	$	2,009	$	1,328
Operating expenses		1,663		1,134		4,713		3,885
Total stock-based compensation before tax	$	2,322	$	1,581	$	6,722	$	5,213
Income tax benefit		(676)		(555)		(2,175)		(1,646)

During the first nine months of 2011, the Company issued approximately 518,000 shares to its employees under the Company's share-based compensation plans and approximately 8,000 shares to the non-employee members of its Board of Directors.

During the first nine months of 2011, the Company granted approximately 134,000 restricted stock units ("RSUs") with a total fair value of $4.7 million. Approximately 52,000 of these RSUs were granted in connection with the election by employees to receive 50% of their 2011 target incentive compensation under the Company's Corporate Incentive Compensation Plan (the "CICP") in the form of RSUs instead of cash. The total stock-based compensation of approximately $1.6 million associated with these RSUs will be recognized over one year.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had approximately $7.9 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to all unvested RSUs and unvested stock options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of two years.