Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2017

Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. The three most recent years ended on January 1, 2017 (2016, which contained 52 weeks), January 3, 2016 (2015, which contained 53 weeks) and December 28, 2014 (2014, which contained 52 weeks). Period costs included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses are recorded on a calendar-year basis. The Company’s operations in Brazil are accounted for on a one-month lag. The Company’s equity investment in TS Kelly Asia Pacific and TS Kelly Workforce Solutions are accounted for on a one-quarter lag (see Investment in TS Kelly Asia Pacific footnote). Any material transactions in the intervening period are disclosed or accounted for in the current reporting period.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In connection with the Company’s investment in TS Kelly Asia Pacific in the third quarter of 2016, the Commercial and PT staffing operations and certain OCG businesses in the APAC region were deconsolidated at that time. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Available-For-Sale Investment

Available-For-Sale Investment The Company’s available-for-sale investment, as further described in the Fair Value Measurements footnote, is carried at fair value with the unrealized gains or losses, net of tax, included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Realized losses and declines in value below cost judged to be other-than-temporary, if any, are included as a component of asset impairments expense in the consolidated statement of earnings. The fair value of the available-for-sale investment is based on quoted market prices.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation All of the Company’s international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency, which is the currency in which they transact the majority of their activities. Revenue and expense accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at average exchange rates, while assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments, net of tax, where applicable, are reported as accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments in stockholders’ equity and are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition Revenue from services is recognized as services are provided by the temporary or contract employees. Revenue from permanent placement services is recognized at the time the permanent placement candidate begins full-time employment. Revenue from other fee-based services is recognized when the services are provided. Revenues from sales of services and the related direct costs are recorded in accordance with the accounting guidance on reporting revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent. When we act as an agent, we report the revenues on a net basis. Provisions for sales allowances (billing adjustments related to errors, service issues and compromises on billing disputes), based on historical experience, are recognized at the time the related sale is recognized as a reduction in revenue from services.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable The Company records an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable based on historical loss experience, customer payment patterns and current economic trends. The reserve for sales allowances, as discussed above, is also included in the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable. The Company reviews the adequacy of the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable on a quarterly basis and, if necessary, increases or decreases the balance by recording a charge or credit to SG&A expenses for the portion of the adjustment relating to uncollectible accounts receivable, and a charge or credit to revenue from services for the portion of the adjustment relating to sales allowances.

Cost of Services

Cost of Services Cost of services are those costs directly associated with the earning of revenue. The primary examples of these types of costs are temporary employee wages, along with associated payroll taxes, temporary employee benefits, such as service bonus and holiday pay, and workers’ compensation costs. These costs differ fundamentally from SG&A expenses in that they arise specifically from the action of providing our services to customers whereas SG&A costs are incurred regardless of whether or not we place temporary employees with our customers.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising Expenses Advertising expenses, which are expensed as incurred and are included in SG&A expenses,

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, workers’ compensation, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, litigation costs and income taxes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Equivalents

Cash and Equivalents Cash and equivalents are stated at fair value. The Company considers securities with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and equivalents.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Cost and estimated useful lives of property and equipment by function are as follows:



Category	2016		2015		Life
	(In millions of dollars)
Land	$	3.8	$	3.8		—
Work in process	0.8		2.5			—
Buildings and improvements	61.1		60.2		15	to	45 years
Computer hardware and software	145.0		229.5		3	to	12 years
Equipment, furniture and fixtures	33.8		34.0			5	years
Leasehold improvements	25.5		31.8		The lesser of the life of the lease or 5 years.
Total property and equipment	$	270.0	$	361.8

The Company capitalizes external costs and internal payroll costs directly incurred in the development of software for internal use as required by the Internal-Use Software Subtopic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Work in process represents capitalized costs for internal use software not yet in service.

Operating Leases

Operating Leases The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. This includes the impact of both scheduled rent increases and free or reduced rents (commonly referred to as “rent holidays”). The Company records allowances provided by landlords for leasehold improvements as deferred rent in the consolidated balance sheet and as operating cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Purchased intangible assets with definite lives are recorded at estimated fair value at the date of acquisition and are amortized over their respective useful lives (from 3 to 15 years) on a straight-line basis or, if appropriate, on an accelerated basis commensurate with the related cash flows.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When estimated undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover the asset group’s carrying amount, in which the long-lived asset being tested for impairment resides, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell.

We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually in the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. We have determined that our reporting units are the same as our operating and reportable segments based on our organizational structure and the financial information that is provided to and reviewed by the chief operating decision makers (“CODM”). We may use a qualitative assessment for one or more reporting units for the annual goodwill impairment test if we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit(s) is more than their carrying value.

For reporting units where the qualitative assessment is not used, goodwill is tested for impairment using a two-step process. In the first step, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further testing is required.

If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, a second step of the impairment test is performed in order to determine the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference.

Accounts Payable

Accounts Payable Included in accounts payable are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit.

Accrued Payroll and Related Taxes

Accrued Payroll and Related Taxes Included in accrued payroll and related taxes are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $18.4 million and $4.9 million at year-end 2016 and 2015, respectively. Payroll taxes for temporary employees are recognized proportionately to direct wages for interim periods based on expected full-year amounts.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The U.S. work opportunity credit is allowed for wages earned by employees in certain targeted groups. The actual amount of creditable wages in a particular period is estimated, since the credit is only available once an employee reaches a minimum employment period and the employee’s inclusion in a targeted group is certified by the applicable state. As these events often occur after the period the wages are earned, judgment is required in determining the amount of work opportunity credits accrued for in each period. We evaluate the accrual regularly throughout the year and make adjustments as needed.

Uncertain tax positions that are taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Interest and penalties related to income taxes are classified as income tax expense.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation The Company may grant restricted stock awards and units (collectively, “restricted stock”), stock options (both incentive and nonqualified), stock appreciation rights and performance awards to key employees associated with the Company’s Class A stock. The Company utilizes the market price on the date of grant as the fair value for restricted stock and the market price on the date of grant less the present value of the expected dividends not received during the vesting period for performance awards. The Company also estimates a fair value of performance awards related to relative total shareholder return using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of awards that are ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in SG&A expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share Restricted stock that entitle their holders to receive nonforfeitable dividends before vesting are considered participating securities and, therefore, are included in the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, earnings from continuing operations (or net earnings) is reduced by the amount of dividends declared, and the remaining undistributed earnings is allocated to common stock and participating securities based on the proportion of each class’s weighted average shares outstanding to the total weighted average shares outstanding. The calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the effect of potential common shares outstanding in the average weighted shares outstanding.

Workers' Compensation

Workers’ Compensation The Company establishes accruals for workers’ compensation claims utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims. The estimates are based both on historical experience as well as current legal, economic and regulatory factors. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, the Company records a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount. The receivable is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet at year end. The Company regularly updates its estimates, and the ultimate cost of these claims may be greater than or less than the established accrual.

Segment Disclosures

The Company’s segments are based on the organizational structure for which financial results are regularly evaluated by the Company’s CODM (the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer) to determine resource allocation and assess performance. The Company’s seven reporting segments are: (1) Americas Commercial, (2) Americas Professional and Technical (“Americas PT”), (3) Europe, Middle East and Africa Commercial (“EMEA Commercial”), (4) Europe, Middle East and Africa Professional and Technical (“EMEA PT”), (5) Asia Pacific Commercial (“APAC Commercial”), (6) Asia Pacific Professional and Technical (“APAC PT”) and (7) Outsourcing and Consulting Group (“OCG”).

The Commercial business segments within the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions represent traditional office services, contact-center staffing, marketing, electronic assembly, light industrial and, in the Americas, substitute teachers. The PT segments encompass a wide range of highly skilled temporary employees, including scientists, financial professionals, attorneys, engineers, IT specialists and healthcare workers. OCG includes recruitment process outsourcing (“RPO”), contingent workforce outsourcing (“CWO”), business process outsourcing (“BPO”), payroll process outsourcing (“PPO”) and career transition/outplacement services. Corporate expenses that directly support the operating units have been allocated to the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions and OCG based on a work effort, volume, or in the absence of a readily available measurement process, proportionately based on revenue from services.

The Company regularly assesses its organizational structure, product/service offerings and information evaluated by the CODM to determine whether any changes have occurred that would impact its segment reporting structure. The completion of the TS Kelly Asia Pacific joint venture transaction (see Investment in TS Kelly Asia Pacific footnote) and the results of its annual strategic review will likely change how the Company allocates resources and analyzes performance, which may result in a change to the Company’s segment reporting in 2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18 amending the presentation of restricted cash within the statement of cash flows. The new guidance requires that restricted cash be included within cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective retrospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 clarifying how entities should classify certain cash receipts and payments on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance addresses classification of cash flows related to the following transactions: 1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; 2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; 3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; 4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; 5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies; 6) distributions received from equity method investees; and 7) beneficial interests in securitization transaction. ASU 2016-15 also clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017 and requires retrospective application. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 amending how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance requires the application of a current expected credit loss model which is a new impairment model based on expected losses. Under this model, an entity recognizes an allowance for expected credit losses based on historical experience, current conditions and forecasted information rather than the current methodology of delaying recognition of credit losses until it is probable a loss has been incurred. This ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. This ASU applies to trade accounts receivable and may have an impact on our calculation of the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 amending several aspects of share-based payment accounting. This guidance requires all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies to be recorded in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, with prospective application required. The guidance also changes the classification of such tax benefits or tax deficiencies on the statement of cash flows from a financing activity to an operating activity, with retrospective or prospective application allowed. Additionally, the guidance requires the classification of employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows, with retrospective application required. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 amending the existing accounting standards for lease accounting and requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months, including those classified as operating leases. Both the asset and liability will initially be measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments, with the asset being subject to adjustments such as initial direct costs. Consistent with current U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the presentation of expenses and cash flows will depend primarily on the classification of the lease as either a finance or an operating lease. The new standard also requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases in order to provide additional information about the nature of an organization’s leasing activities. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires modified retrospective application. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As our branch operations are primarily conducted in leased facilities, this ASU will likely have a material impact on our balance sheet, may have a material impact to our statement of earnings and will require us to disclose additional information about our leasing activities. We plan to establish a cross-functional implementation team in 2017 to further assess the impact of the standard.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 amending the current guidance for how entities measure certain equity investments, the accounting for financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements relating to financial instruments. The new guidance requires entities to use fair value measurement for equity investments in unconsolidated entities, excluding equity method investments, and to recognize the changes in fair value in net income at the end of each reporting period. Under the new standard, for any financial liabilities in which the fair value option has been elected, the changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk must be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. Presentation and disclosure requirements under the new guidance require public business entities to use the exit price when measuring the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost. In addition, financial assets and liabilities must now be presented separately in the notes to the financial statements and grouped by measurement category and form of financial asset. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for the financial liability provision. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. This standard will impact how we recognize changes in the fair value of our available-for-sale investment and could have a material impact on our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15 requiring management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, which is currently performed by the external auditors. Management will be required to perform this assessment for both interim and annual reporting periods and must make certain disclosures if it concludes that substantial doubt exists. This ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods thereafter. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new revenue recognition guidance under ASU 2014-09 that will supersede the existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard focuses on creating a single source of revenue guidance for revenue arising from contracts with customers for all industries. The objective of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue when it transfers the promised goods or services to its customers at an amount that represents what the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date by one year (ASU 2015-14). This ASU will now be effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. Since the issuance of the original standard, the FASB has issued several other subsequent updates including the following: 1) clarification of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08); 2) further guidance on identifying performance obligations in a contract as well as clarifications on the licensing implementation guidance (ASU 2016-10); 3) rescission of several SEC Staff Announcements that are codified in Topic 605 (ASU 2016-11); 4) additional guidance and practical expedients in response to identified implementation issues (ASU 2016-12); and 5) technical corrections and improvements (ASU 2016-20). The new standard will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2018.

We established a cross-functional implementation team consisting of representatives from across our business segments and various departments. We utilized a bottoms-up approach to analyze the impact of the standard on our various revenue streams by reviewing our current contracts with customers, accounting policies and business practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard. In addition, we identified, and are in the process of implementing, appropriate changes to our business processes, systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

We have been closely monitoring FASB activity related to the new standard to conclude on specific interpretive issues. During 2016, we made significant progress toward completing our evaluation of the potential impact that adopting the new standard will have on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position and cash flows. We expect to implement the standard with the modified retrospective approach beginning January 1, 2018, which recognizes the cumulative effect of application recognized on that date.

Revenue on the majority of our contracts with customers will continue to be recognized over time as services are rendered. The impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 primarily relates to deferring contract costs and estimating variable (or contingent) consideration when the estimation will not result in the reversal of that revenue in subsequent periods.

Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe that any of these pronouncements will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.