Litigation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Litigation	Note 12 - Litigation BBSI received a subpoena from the San Francisco office of the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in April 2016 in connection with the SEC’s inquiry into reported errors in our financial statements. The Company previously received a subpoena from the SEC in May 2015 in connection with the SEC’s investigation of the Company’s accounting policies with regard to its workers’ compensation reserves. During the third quarter of 2018, BBSI reached an agreement with the Division of Enforcement staff for a full resolution of this matter. The settlement agreement included a civil penalty in the amount of $1.5 million, which was paid in September 2018. In June 2016, BBSI was advised by the United States Department of Justice that it had commenced an investigation. In September of 2018 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced criminal charges against BBSI’s prior CFO. This is an action solely against the prior CFO, and the Company continues to cooperate with the investigation. On June 17, 2015, Daniel Salinas (“Salinas”) filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit against BBSI and certain of its officers and directors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland. On December 31, 2018, the court issued an order to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction over the officers and directors named in the suit. On November 21, 2012, David Kaanaana (“Kaanaana”), a former staffing employee, filed a California wage and hour violations lawsuit against BBSI. On May 19, 2016, the court entered a ruling in favor of BBSI, which was subsequently appealed by the plaintiffs. On November 30, 2018, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District returned its decision in Kaanaana v. Barrett Business Services, Inc., overruling the trial court's decision to dismiss plaintiffs' claims and holding that prevailing wage requirements applicable to “public works” apply to certain types of districts. On January 9, 2019, BBSI filed a petition of review to the California Supreme Court. An amicus letter in support of the petition was filed by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, joined in by numerous other "special districts" in California. On February 27, 2019, the California Supreme Court granted the petition to review the appellate court’s decision. BBSI is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. The Company has accrued $2.9 million related to legal actions, including those described above. Given the status of appeals, management is unable to estimate a potential range of loss arising from these actions.

Litigation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Note 12 - Litigation

BBSI received a subpoena from the San Francisco office of the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in April 2016 in connection with the SEC’s inquiry into reported errors in our financial statements. The Company previously received a subpoena from the SEC in May 2015 in connection with the SEC’s investigation of the Company’s accounting policies with regard to its workers’ compensation reserves. During the third quarter of 2018, BBSI reached an agreement with the Division of Enforcement staff for a full resolution of this matter. The settlement agreement included a civil penalty in the amount of $1.5 million, which was paid in September 2018.

In June 2016, BBSI was advised by the United States Department of Justice that it had commenced an investigation. In September of 2018 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced criminal charges against BBSI’s prior CFO. This is an action solely against the prior CFO, and the Company continues to cooperate with the investigation.

On June 17, 2015, Daniel Salinas (“Salinas”) filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit against BBSI and certain of its officers and directors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland. On December 31, 2018, the court issued an order to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction over the officers and directors named in the suit.

On November 21, 2012, David Kaanaana (“Kaanaana”), a former staffing employee, filed a California wage and hour violations lawsuit against BBSI. On May 19, 2016, the court entered a ruling in favor of BBSI, which was subsequently appealed by the plaintiffs. On November 30, 2018, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District returned its decision in Kaanaana v. Barrett Business Services, Inc., overruling the trial court's decision to dismiss plaintiffs' claims and holding that prevailing wage requirements applicable to “public works” apply to certain types of districts. On January 9, 2019, BBSI filed a petition of review to the California Supreme Court. An amicus letter in support of the petition was filed by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, joined in by numerous other "special districts" in California. On February 27, 2019, the California Supreme Court granted the petition to review the appellate court’s decision.

BBSI is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. The Company has accrued $2.9 million related to legal actions, including those described above. Given the status of appeals, management is unable to estimate a potential range of loss arising from these actions.