The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=tbi_PeopleReadyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=tbi_PeopleManagementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=tbi_PeopleScoutMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2017	Sep. 23, 2016	Jun. 24, 2016	Mar. 25, 2016	Dec. 25, 2015	Sep. 25, 2015	Jun. 26, 2015	Mar. 27, 2015	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 25, 2015	Dec. 26, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 734,951	$ 697,097	$ 672,612	$ 645,980	$ 810,733	$ 683,918	$ 627,714	$ 573,315	$ 2,750,640	$ 2,695,680	$ 2,174,045
Income (loss) from operations	23,481	27,751	(76,826)	8,599	33,157	33,252	23,710	7,723	(16,995)	97,842	81,728
Depreciation and amortization	(12,019)	(11,690)	(11,694)	(11,289)	(10,428)	(10,498)	(10,397)	(10,520)	(46,692)	(41,843)	(29,474)
Interest and other income (expense), net	(572)	(867)	(887)	(1,019)	(293)	(366)	(202)	(534)	(3,345)	(1,395)	116
Income before tax expense	$ 22,909	$ 26,884	$ (77,713)	$ 7,580	$ 32,864	$ 32,886	$ 23,508	$ 7,189	(20,340)	96,447	81,844
Corporate Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations									(30,237)	(30,050)	(26,431)
PeopleReady
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,629,455	1,625,817	1,534,547
Income (loss) from operations									101,270	123,899	105,731
PeopleManagement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									940,453	965,331	591,366
Income (loss) from operations									(60,452)	36,512	28,828
PeopleScout
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									180,732	104,532	48,132
Income (loss) from operations									$ 19,116	$ 9,324	$ 3,074