SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011 region	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 segments		Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments (in segments)			3			3
Revenue, from external customers	$ 187,873			$ 245,081		$ 593,301		$ 710,998
Inter-segment revenue	0			0		0		0
Total revenue	187,873	[1]		245,081	[1]	593,301	[1]	710,998	[1]
Gross margin, from external customer	67,666			92,992		217,942		269,657
Inter-segment gross margin	0			0		0		0
Gross margin	67,666			92,992		217,942		269,657
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	1,520			0		7,551		747
EBITDA (loss)	663	[2]		7,449	[2]	(3,464)	[2]	17,637	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	1,672			1,537		4,788		4,750
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	0			0		0		0
Interest income (expense), net	(161)			(328)		(510)		(910)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(1,170)			5,584		(8,762)		11,977
Accounts receivable, net	115,548		131,489	151,517		115,548		151,517
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	22,850	[3]		19,329	[3]	22,850	[3]	19,329	[3]
Total assets	199,826		216,546	220,187		199,826		220,187
Hudson Americas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, from external customers	39,102			47,691		129,758		144,415
Inter-segment revenue	0			0		0		(2)
Total revenue	39,102			47,691		129,758		144,413
Gross margin, from external customer	9,587			13,662		33,776		37,040
Inter-segment gross margin	(1)			(2)		(9)		(12)
Gross margin	9,586			13,660		33,767		37,028
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	282			0		1,051		0
EBITDA (loss)	(389)	[2]		1,459	[2]	(122)	[2]	2,242	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	255			267		850		770
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	0			0		0		0
Interest income (expense), net	(13)			(12)		(46)		(14)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(657)			1,180		(1,018)		1,458
Accounts receivable, net	25,570			33,270		25,570		33,270
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,164			2,574		2,164		2,574
Total assets	30,691			38,558		30,691		38,558
Hudson Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, from external customers	73,437			100,637		224,627		275,927
Inter-segment revenue	17			(4)		47		5
Total revenue	73,454			100,633		224,674		275,932
Gross margin, from external customer	29,852			41,201		91,067		113,323
Inter-segment gross margin	(1)			(35)		(14)		(90)
Gross margin	29,851			41,166		91,053		113,233
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	190			0		1,264		0
EBITDA (loss)	3,388	[2]		5,223	[2]	4,017	[2]	11,045	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	864			777		2,351		2,289
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	(747)			(1,851)		(3,264)		(5,541)
Interest income (expense), net	(55)			(209)		(197)		(521)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	1,722			2,386		(1,795)		2,694
Accounts receivable, net	38,171			56,805		38,171		56,805
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	13,631			9,297		13,631		9,297
Total assets	79,747			85,765		79,747		85,765
Hudson Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, from external customers	75,334			96,753		238,916		290,656
Inter-segment revenue	33			24		70		102
Total revenue	75,367			96,777		238,986		290,758
Gross margin, from external customer	28,227			38,129		93,099		119,294
Inter-segment gross margin	2			37		24		96
Gross margin	28,229			38,166		93,123		119,390
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	1,048			0		4,917		747
EBITDA (loss)	(2,165)	[2]		2,020	[2]	(5,556)	[2]	6,930	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	392			356		1,108		1,243
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	(109)			(131)		(326)		(370)
Interest income (expense), net	10			15		32		15
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(2,656)			1,548		(6,958)		5,332
Accounts receivable, net	51,807			61,442		51,807		61,442
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,949			4,918		4,949		4,918
Total assets	73,892			89,746		73,892		89,746
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, from external customers	0			0		0		0
Inter-segment revenue	0			0		0		0
Total revenue	0			0		0		0
Gross margin, from external customer	0			0		0		0
Inter-segment gross margin	0			0		0		0
Gross margin	0			0		0		0
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	0			0		319		0
EBITDA (loss)	(171)	[2]		(1,253)	[2]	(1,803)	[2]	(2,580)	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	161			137		479		448
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	856			1,982		3,590		5,912
Interest income (expense), net	(103)			(122)		(299)		(390)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	421			470		1,009		2,494
Accounts receivable, net	0			0		0		0
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,106			2,540		2,106		2,540
Total assets	15,496			6,118		15,496		6,118
Inter-segment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, from external customers	0			0		0		0
Inter-segment revenue	(50)			(20)		(117)		(105)
Total revenue	(50)			(20)		(117)		(105)
Gross margin, from external customer	0			0		0		0
Inter-segment gross margin	0			0		(1)		6
Gross margin	0			0		(1)		6
Business reorganization expenses (recovery)	0			0		0		0
EBITDA (loss)	0	[2]			[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	0					0		0
Intercompany interest income (expense), net	0					0		(1)
Interest income (expense), net	0					0		0
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	0					0		(1)
Accounts receivable, net	0			0		0		0
Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization	0			0		0		0
Total assets	$ 0			$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Revenue by geographic region disclosed above is net of any inter-segment revenue and, therefore, represents only revenue from external customers according to the location of the operating subsidiary.

[2] SEC Regulation S-K 229.10(e)1(ii)(A) defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented to provide additional information to investors about the Company's operations on a basis consistent with the measures that the Company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses this measurement to evaluate working capital requirements. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income and net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of the Company's profitability.

[3] Comprised of property and equipment and intangibles. Corporate assets are included in the United States.