Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

6 Months Ended

Apr. 28, 2019

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

Restricted cash primarily includes amounts related to requirements under certain contracts with managed service program customers, for whom the Company manages the customers’ contingent staffing requirements, including processing of associate vendor billings into single, combined customer billings and distribution of payments to associate vendors on behalf of customers, as well as minimum cash deposits required to be maintained as collateral. Distribution of payments to associate vendors is generally made shortly after receipt of payment from customers, with undistributed amounts included in restricted cash and accounts payable between receipt and distribution of these amounts, where contractually required. At April 28, 2019 and October 28, 2018, restricted cash included $6.2 million and $11.3 million, respectively, restricted for payment to associate vendors, and $0.5 million in both periods, respectively, restricted for other collateral accounts.

Short-term investments were $3.2 million and $3.1 million at April 28, 2019 and October 28, 2018, respectively. These short-term investments consisted primarily of the fair value of deferred compensation investments corresponding to employees’ selections, primarily in mutual funds, based on quoted prices in active markets.