Share-Based Compensation Expense

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

8.	SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE

Share-based compensation expense is recorded for restricted stock units, stock options and the discount given on employee stock purchase plan transactions.

The amounts attributable to each category of share-based compensation expense were as follows (in thousands):

	For the three months ended
	March 31,
	2019		2018
Amortization of restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards	$	2,640	$	2,774
Amortization of stock option awards		21		34
Discount given on employee stock purchase transactions through our Employee Stock Purchase Plan		108		107
Share-based compensation expense from continuing operations		2,769		2,915
Share-based compensation expense from discontinued operations		-		462
Total share-based compensation expense	$	2,769	$	3,377

Total share-based compensation expense consisted of the following (in thousands):

	For the three months ended
	March 31,
	2019		2018
Cost of services before reimbursable expenses	$	639	$	767
General and administrative expenses		2,130		2,148
Share-based compensation expense from continuing operations		2,769		2,915
Share-based compensation expense from discontinued operations		-		462
Total share-based compensation expense	$	2,769	$	3,377

Share-based compensation expense attributable to client-service employees was included in cost of services before reimbursable expenses. Share-based compensation expense attributable to corporate management and support personnel was included in general and administrative expenses. For further information on discontinued operations see Note 3 – Dispositions and Discontinued Operations.

At March 31, 2019, we had $8.7 million of total compensation costs related to unvested share-based awards that have not been recognized as share-based compensation expense. The compensation costs will be recognized as an expense over the remaining vesting periods. The weighted average remaining vesting period is approximately two years. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we granted an aggregate of 195,031 share-based awards, consisting of restricted stock awards and units with an aggregate fair value of $3.9 million at the time of grant. These grants include certain awards that vest based on relative achievement of pre-established performance criteria.