Quarterly Financial Information - Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations Data (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	May 01, 2011	Jan. 30, 2011	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
REVENUE:
Staffing services	$ 518,952	$ 508,154	$ 521,278	$ 479,217	$ 503,465	$ 490,997	$ 494,277	$ 469,166	$ 2,027,601	$ 1,957,905	$ 1,732,348
Other revenue	52,607	49,878	52,165	63,876	84,733	64,933	64,019	66,519	218,526	280,204	224,064
NET REVENUE	571,559	558,032	573,443	543,093	588,198	555,930	558,296	535,685	2,246,127	2,238,109	1,956,412
EXPENSES:
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	440,600	441,124	441,341	415,868	434,541	430,081	431,057	403,032	1,738,933	1,698,711	1,479,562
Cost of other revenue	39,363	38,296	42,759	43,435	46,176	40,658	38,507	40,870	163,853	166,211	178,268
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	81,259	78,093	77,003	74,492	77,490	76,636	75,220	73,536	310,847	302,882	294,564
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	348	344	345	345	345	345	344	313	1,382	1,347	1,434
Gain on sale of building	(4,418)								(4,418)
Fees related to restatement and associated investigations	14,906	9,800	9,169	9,031	11,440	9,821	12,415	15,517	42,906	49,193	29,158
TOTAL EXPENSES	572,058	567,657	570,617	543,171	569,992	557,541	557,543	533,268	2,253,503	2,218,344	1,986,135
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(499)	(9,625)	2,826	(78)	18,206	(1,611)	753	2,417	(7,376)	19,765	(29,723)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	123	227	118	124	165	169	170	183	592	687	763
Interest expense	(726)	(736)	(699)	(703)	(690)	(613)	(619)	(654)	(2,864)	(2,576)	(2,633)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(317)	774	(1,043)	455	626	553	(2,159)	411	(131)	(569)	166
Other expense, net	(495)	(321)	(324)	(293)	(500)	(431)	(306)	(789)	(1,433)	(2,026)	(2,334)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(1,914)	(9,681)	878	(495)	17,807	(1,933)	(2,161)	1,568	(11,212)	15,281	(33,761)
Income tax provision (benefit)	98	1,560	331	402	1,803	110	110	(2,371)	2,391	(348)	62,614
Net income (loss)	$ (2,012)	$ (11,241)	$ 547	$ (897)	$ 16,004	$ (2,043)	$ (2,271)	$ 3,939	$ (13,603)	$ 15,629	$ (96,375)
Basic:
Net income (loss)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ 0.77	$ (0.10)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.19
Weighted average number of shares	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,812
Diluted:
Net income (loss)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ 0.77	$ (0.10)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.19
Weighted average number of shares	20,813	20,813	20,902	20,813	20,866	20,813	20,813	20,850	20,813	20,896	20,812