Segment Data (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	$ 289,924	$ 330,625	$ 905,953	$ 993,169
Cost of services	244,205	282,098	766,225	847,602
GROSS MARGIN	45,719	48,527	139,728	145,567
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	46,931	49,543	146,992	153,294
Restructuring and severance costs	249	970	1,072	4,571
Impairment charge	0	0	290	0
Gain from divestitures	0	0	(3,938)	(1,663)
OPERATING LOSS	(1,461)	(1,986)	(4,688)	(10,635)
Other income (expense), net	(2,983)	(2,231)	(5,331)	(4,685)
Income tax provision	1,074	393	930	2,037
NET LOSS	(5,518)	(4,610)	(10,949)	(17,357)
Operating Segments | North American Staffing
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	229,372	249,730	695,041	739,186
Cost of services	194,594	211,806	592,504	633,139
GROSS MARGIN	34,778	37,924	102,537	106,047
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	28,962	30,757	90,695	92,418
Restructuring and severance costs	75	482	215	1,074
Impairment charge			0
Gain from divestitures			0	0
OPERATING LOSS	5,741	6,685	11,627	12,555
Operating Segments | International Staffing
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	29,018	32,565	89,599	99,766
Cost of services	24,459	27,672	75,786	85,133
GROSS MARGIN	4,559	4,893	13,813	14,633
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	3,824	3,888	11,895	12,453
Restructuring and severance costs	4	138	14	608
Impairment charge			0
Gain from divestitures			0	0
OPERATING LOSS	731	867	1,904	1,572
Operating Segments | Technology Outsourcing Services and Solutions
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	24,323	23,857	74,493	76,052
Cost of services	19,788	21,820	60,196	63,583
GROSS MARGIN	4,535	2,037	14,297	12,469
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	3,561	2,929	10,625	9,833
Restructuring and severance costs	2	0	39	225
Impairment charge			0
Gain from divestitures			0	0
OPERATING LOSS	972	(892)	3,633	2,411
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	9,042	27,206	51,371	87,201
Cost of services	7,195	23,533	42,290	74,783
GROSS MARGIN	1,847	3,673	9,081	12,418
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	10,584	11,969	33,777	38,590
Restructuring and severance costs	168	350	804	2,664
Impairment charge			290
Gain from divestitures			(3,938)	(1,663)
OPERATING LOSS	(8,905)	(8,646)	(21,852)	(27,173)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	(1,831)	(2,733)	(4,551)	(9,036)
Cost of services	(1,831)	(2,733)	(4,551)	(9,036)
GROSS MARGIN	0	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	0	0	0	0
Restructuring and severance costs	0	0	0	0
Impairment charge			0
Gain from divestitures			0	0
OPERATING LOSS	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0