UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 __________________________________________

Commission file number 1-10427

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	94-1648752
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2884 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, California	94025
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (650) 234-6000

 __________________________________________

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $.001 per Share	RHI	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

__________________________________________

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes   ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐   Smaller reporting company  ☐ Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company.  ☐  Yes   ☒  No

As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $9,676,365,011 based on the closing sale price on that date. This amount excludes the market value of 3,225,653 shares of Common Stock directly or indirectly held by registrant’s directors and officers and their affiliates.

As of January 31, 2022, there were 110,685,988 outstanding shares of the registrant’s Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders in connection with the registrant’s annual meeting of stockholders, scheduled to be held in May 2022, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report. Except as expressly incorporated by reference, the registrant’s Proxy Statement shall not be deemed to be part of this report.

PART I

Item 1. Business

Robert Half International Inc. (the “Company”) provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group®, and Protiviti®. The Company, through its Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is a specialized provider of contract, full-time, and senior-level project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled contract, administrative support professionals. Robert Half Technology provides project and full-time technology professionals. Robert Half Legal provides contract, project, and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel. The Creative Group provides creative, digital, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Protiviti, which began operations in 2002, is a global consulting firm that helps companies solve problems in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Company’s business was originally founded in 1948. Prior to 1986, the Company was primarily a franchisor, under the names Accountemps and Robert Half (now called Robert Half Finance & Accounting), of offices providing temporary and full-time professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. Beginning in 1986, the Company and its current management embarked on a strategy of acquiring franchised locations. All of the franchises have been acquired. The Company believes that direct ownership of offices allows it to better monitor and protect the image of its trade names, promote a more consistent and higher level of quality and service throughout its network of offices and improve profitability by centralizing many of its administrative functions. Since 1986, the Company has significantly expanded operations at many of the acquired locations, opened many new locations and acquired other local or regional providers of specialized temporary service personnel. The Company has also expanded the scope of its services by launching the new product lines OfficeTeam, Robert Half Technology, Robert Half Management Resources, Robert Half Legal and The Creative Group.

In 2002, the Company hired more than 700 professionals who had been affiliated with the internal audit and business and technology risk consulting practice of Arthur Andersen LLP, including more than 50 individuals who had been partners of that firm. These professionals formed the base of the Company’s Protiviti Inc. subsidiary. Protiviti has enabled the Company to enter the market for business consulting and internal audit services, and the Company believes this market offers synergies with its traditional lines of business.

Accountemps

Accountemps offers customers a reliable and economical means of dealing with uneven or peak workloads for accounting, finance, and bookkeeping personnel caused by such predictable events as vacations, taking inventories, tax work, month-end activities and special projects, and such unpredictable events as illness and emergencies. Businesses view the use of temporary employees as a means of controlling personnel costs and converting such costs from fixed to variable. The cost and inconvenience to clients of hiring and firing regular employees are eliminated by the use of Accountemps temporaries. The temporary workers are employees of Accountemps and are paid by Accountemps. The customer pays a fixed rate only for hours worked.

Accountemps clients may fill their regular employment needs by using an Accountemps employee on a trial basis and, if so desired, “converting” the temporary position to a regular position. The client typically pays a one-time fee for such conversions.

OfficeTeam

The Company’s OfficeTeam division, which commenced operations in 1991, places temporary and full-time office and administrative personnel, ranging from executive and administrative assistants to receptionists and customer service representatives. OfficeTeam operates in much the same fashion as the Accountemps division.

Robert Half Finance & Accounting

Established in 1948, the Company’s first division and specialized recruitment pioneer Robert Half Finance & Accounting specializes in the placement of full-time accounting, financial, tax and accounting operations personnel. Fees for successful placements are paid only by the employer and are generally a percentage of the new employee’s annual compensation. No fee for placement services is charged to employment candidates.

Robert Half Technology

The Company’s Robert Half Technology division, which commenced operations in 1994, specializes in providing information technology contract professionals, placing full-time employees, and offering managed services in areas ranging

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from multiple platform systems integration to end-user technical and desktop support, including specialists in software and application development, networking and cloud, systems integration and deployment, database design and administration, and security and business continuity.

Robert Half Legal

Since 1992, the Company has been placing temporary and full-time employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrative and legal secretarial positions through its Robert Half Legal division. The legal profession’s requirements (the need for confidentiality, accuracy and reliability, a strong drive toward cost-effectiveness, and frequent peak caseload periods) are similar to the demands of the clients of the Accountemps division. Robert Half Legal offers a full suite of legal staffing and consulting services to help organizations manage constantly changing workloads and access expertise across in-demand legal practice areas.

Robert Half Management Resources

The Company’s Robert Half Management Resources division, which commenced operations in 1997, specializes in providing senior-level project professionals in the accounting, finance and business systems fields, including chief financial officers, controllers, senior financial analysts, internal auditors, and business systems analysts, for such tasks as financial systems conversions, business process re-engineering, business systems performance improvement and post-merger financial consolidation.

The Creative Group

The Creative Group division commenced operations in 1999 and specializes in identifying for its clients creative professionals in the areas of creative, digital, marketing, advertising and public relations. The division places contract and permanent employees in a variety of positions such as creative directors, graphic designers, web designers, media buyers, front end developers, copywriters, digital marketing managers, marketing analytics specialists, brand managers, and public relations specialists.

Protiviti

Protiviti is a global business consulting firm that delivers an expanding set of services across its defined solution offerings of internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance improvement. Protiviti and its independently owned Member Firms work collaboratively with its clients in over 25 countries to help them achieve their business objectives and deliver confidence in an ever-evolving dynamic business world. Serving organizations across industry sectors, clients range from high-growth, pre-public/transactional established start-ups to the largest global companies and government entities, across industries.

Marketing and Recruiting

The Company markets its staffing services to clients and employment candidates via both national and local advertising activities, including radio, digital advertising, job boards, alliance partners, and events. The Company also markets its services via its website, blog and mobile app as well as through targeted online tactics, email, and social media. Direct marketing to customers is a significant portion of the Company’s total marketing efforts. Joint marketing arrangements have been entered into with major software manufacturers and typically provide for the development of proprietary skills tests, cooperative advertising, joint campaigns, and similar promotional activities. The Company also actively seeks endorsements and affiliations with professional organizations in the accounting and finance, technology, legal, and creative and marketing fields. The Company also conducts public relations activities designed to enhance public recognition of the Company and its services. Central to the public relations activities is research-based content, targeted media relations and thought leadership. Robert Half employees are encouraged to be active in civic organizations and industry trade groups in their local communities.

Protiviti markets its business consulting services to a variety of global clients in a range of industries. Industry and competency teams conduct targeted marketing efforts, locally, nationally and globally, including digital advertising, search advertising, email marketing, production of thought leadership, social media and live and virtual speaking events. Protiviti regularly conducts a variety of programs to share its insights with clients on current and emerging business issues. It conducts public relations activities, including distributing press releases, sharing proprietary research findings and providing subject-matter experts for press interviews designed to enhance recognition for the Protiviti brand, establish its expertise in key issues surrounding its businesses and promote its services. Protiviti promotes its brand name through digital and out-of-home advertising and its professional golf brand ambassador program. Protiviti regularly updates the services, value-added content and digital experience on the Protiviti websites globally. Employees are encouraged to be active in relevant social media communities, civic organizations and industry trade groups.

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The Company and its subsidiaries own many trademarks, service marks and tradenames, including the Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, Accountemps®, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group® and Protiviti® marks, which are registered in the United States and in a number of foreign countries.

Organization

Management of the Company’s staffing operations is coordinated from its headquarters facilities in Menlo Park and San Ramon, California. The Company’s headquarters provides support and centralized services to its offices in the administrative, marketing, public relations, accounting, information technology, training and legal areas, particularly as it relates to the standardization of the operating procedures of its offices. As of December 31, 2021, the Company conducted its staffing services operations through 321 offices in 42 states, the District of Columbia and 17 foreign countries. Office managers are responsible for most activities of their offices, including sales, local advertising and marketing and recruitment.

The day-to-day operations of Protiviti are managed by a chief executive officer and a senior management team with operational and administrative support provided by individuals located in San Ramon and Menlo Park, California. As of December 31, 2021, Protiviti had 64 offices in 24 states and 12 foreign countries.

Competition

The Company’s staffing services face competition in attracting clients as well as skilled specialized employment candidates. The staffing business is highly competitive, with a number of firms offering services similar to those provided by the Company on a national, regional or local basis. In many areas, the local companies are the strongest competitors. The most significant competitive factors in the staffing business are price and the reliability of service, both of which are often a function of the availability and quality of personnel. The expanded acceptance of remote work creates significant opportunity for the Company. It brings together the Company’s numerous strengths, including its global brand, global office network, global candidate database, and advanced AI-driven technologies and data analytics at the scale needed to excel at out-of-market recruitment and placements. This strengthens the Company’s competitive position significantly since its traditionally toughest competitors, local and regional staffing firms, generally do not have these capabilities.

Protiviti faces competition in its efforts to attract clients, expand relationships with existing clients and win new business proposals. The global professional services business is highly competitive with a dynamic regulatory environment, disruptive new technologies, security and privacy concerns, and high demand for skilled professionals all driving significant opportunities. The principal competitors of Protiviti remain the “big four” accounting firms and other consultancies. Significant competitive factors include reputation, technology, tools, project methodologies, price of services and depth of skills of personnel. Protiviti believes its competitive strengths lie in the collaborative approach it takes to working with clients, which drives knowledge transfer, understanding of client issues and value creation. This may be coupled with a “configure-to-fit” resourcing model to create blended teams of full-time Protiviti professionals and engagement professionals from Robert Half’s network of specialized talent to precisely match expertise, approach and people to the changing global needs of clients on consulting and managed solutions projects.

Human Capital Management

Employees. The Company has approximately 14,600 full-time internal staff, including approximately 5,700 employees engaged directly in Protiviti operations. In addition, the Company placed approximately 177,000 engagement professionals on assignments with clients during 2021. In 2020, the Company had approximately 13,000 full-time internal staff, including approximately 5,000 employees engaged directly in Protiviti operations. In 2020, the Company placed approximately 150,500 engagement professionals on assignments with clients. The substantial majority of engagement professionals placed on assignment by the Company are the Company’s legal employees while they are working on assignments. The Company pays the related costs of employment, such as workers’ compensation insurance, state and federal unemployment taxes, social security and certain fringe benefits. The Company provides access to voluntary health insurance coverage to interested employees.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Company believes that its rich culture of diversity, equity and inclusion enables it to leverage the strengths of its workforce while also creating an environment where employees can connect, thrive and grow. In 2021, we continued our support of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge and furthered our commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion by signing joint pledges with Ascend and Disability:IN.

Current key initiatives include a companywide Diversity and Inclusion education series, the creation of Employee Network Groups (“ENGs”) as business resource groups, and a focus on external strategic partnerships to increase engagement and representation of underrepresented communities. The Company places a high value on inclusion, engaging employees in its ENG programs staffed by employees with diverse backgrounds, experiences or characteristics who share a common interest in

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professional development, improving corporate culture, and delivering sustained business results. In 2021, Robert Half launched the LGBTQIA+ and Global Women Employee Network Groups, joining existing groups for Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latinx communities. Protiviti has a number of ENGs that have existed for several years. The Company uses these groups to serve as a source of inclusion and to support the acquisition of diverse talent internally and externally. Each ENG is sponsored and supported by senior leaders across the enterprise.

Across both Robert Half and Protiviti, as of December 31, 2021, approximately 55% of the Company's global workforce was female and 47% of the Company’s employees in managerial and leadership roles were female. As of December 31, 2021, approximately 33% of the Company's U.S. workforce were from underrepresented groups.

Employee Engagement. As part of the Robert Half employee voice initiative to provide its employees with feedback opportunities, in 2021, the Company conducted three surveys throughout the year to understand employee needs and support employees during the pandemic. The survey results were analyzed by an independent third-party and then reviewed by the executive officers. The results of this engagement survey were shared with individual managers, who were then tasked with taking action based on their employees’ confidential feedback (both quantitative and qualitative). In 2021, Robert Half also sent out new hire surveys at specific points in a new hire's onboarding as well as departure surveys to selected employees. By paying close attention to the results both at an aggregate enterprise level and at a department/business/workgroup level, and an employee's life cycle with Robert Half, the Company has been able to enhance its culture of rewards and recognition, drive efforts to promote inclusion and diversity, increase communication in support of employee well-being and modernize its approach to foster a culture of continuous learning and feedback. Protiviti leverages surveys in the United States and internationally, including the Great Place to Work survey.

Learning and Development. The Company emphasizes employee development and training as a priority for the organization. Training and development are key elements to the overall retention, engagement, and employee experience strategy. Our strategy is designed to empower employees to reach their full potential, and we provide a wide range of development programs, opportunities and resources needed to be successful. The Company has specialized programs for all audiences, including new hires, tenured employees and leadership. We provide a variety of learning channels including instructor-led, facilitated custom workshops, leader-led, cohort and mentorships, self-paced, e-learning and a catalog of vendor-provided courses, videos, resources, and books. The Company is committed to its employees' overall health and providing career progression by providing individual development, readiness, and transition plans as a part of its talent review and succession planning process. As a result of the pandemic, our learning strategy has pivoted to a virtual/hybrid approach. This has allowed us to expand our offerings and reach through a virtual delivery model. In 2021, we also launched a virtual-facilitated onboarding program as onboarding new employees virtually needs to be more planned, structured and engaging. As a result of the shift in our learning programs to a virtual/hybrid approach, employees have increased access and a closer connection to the Company’s learning programs. In 2021, approximately 10,432 employees engaged with the Company’s learning program virtually.

Compensation, Benefits and Well-being. The Company offers fair, competitive compensation and benefits that support its employees’ overall well-being. To ensure alignment with management's short- and long-term objectives, the Company's compensation programs for all employees include competitive base pay and short-term and long-term incentives for some of its employees. The Company offers a wide array of benefits including comprehensive health and welfare insurance, generous time-off and leave, and retirement and financial support. The Company provides emotional well-being services through its Employee Assistance Program as well as a number of perks and other convenience benefits.

In response to the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the enterprise implemented significant changes. We provided all employees with the unconditional opportunity to work from home and the vast majority did so. We also implemented additional safety measures for employees continuing critical on-site work. The Company also ensured employees received unlimited paid time off to care for themselves or their families who were impacted by COVID-19, whether due to illness, quarantine, or lack of childcare resources.

Other Information

The Company is not dependent upon a single customer or a limited number of customers. The Company’s staffing services operations are generally more active in the first and fourth quarters of a calendar year. Protiviti is generally more active in the third and fourth quarters of a calendar year. Order backlog is not a material aspect of the Company’s staffing services business. Backlog is of greater importance to Protiviti and is typically realized within a 12-month period.

The Company conducts business under various federal, state, and local government contracts, no one such contract represents more than two percent of total service revenues in 2021.

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Available Information

The Company’s Internet address is www.roberthalf.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, through its website, its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, proxy statements for its annual meetings of stockholders, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as is reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Also available on the Company’s website are its Corporate Governance Guidelines, its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and the charters for its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee, each of which is available in print to any stockholder who makes a request to Robert Half International Inc., 2884 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Attn: Corporate Secretary. The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is the Code of Ethics required by Item 406 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K. The Company intends to satisfy any disclosure obligations under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment or waiver relating to its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on its website. The Company has used, and intends to continue to use, its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The Company's website, and the information contained therein or connected to or linked from the website, are not incorporated information and do not constitute part of this Annual Report.

Government Regulations

Our operations are subject to regulations by federal, state, local and professional governing bodies, and laws and regulations in various foreign countries, including, but not limited to, (a) licensing and registration requirements and (b) regulation of the employer/employee relationship, such as worker classification regulations, wage and hour regulations, tax withholding and reporting, immigration regulations, social security and other retirement, anti-discrimination, and employee benefits and workers’ compensation regulations. Our operations could be impacted by legislative changes by these bodies, particularly with respect to provisions relating to payroll and benefits, tax and accounting, employment, worker classification and data privacy. Due to the complex regulatory environment that we operate in, we remain focused on compliance with governmental and professional organizations' regulations. For more discussion of the potential impact that the regulatory environment could have on our financial results, refer to Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

The Company’s business prospects are subject to various risks and uncertainties that impact its business. The most important of these risks and uncertainties are as follows:

Risks Related to the Company’s Business Environment

Any reduction in global economic activity may harm the Company’s business and financial condition. The demand for the Company’s services, in particular its staffing services, is highly dependent upon the state of the economy and upon the staffing needs of the Company’s clients. In the recent past, certain of the Company’s markets experienced economic uncertainty characterized by increasing unemployment, limited availability of credit and decreased consumer and business spending. In addition, certain geopolitical events, including the spread of COVID-19 and the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (“Brexit”), have caused significant economic, market, political and regulatory uncertainty in some of the Company’s markets. Any decline in the economic condition or employment levels of the U.S. or of any of the foreign countries in which the Company does business, or in the economic condition of any region of any of the foregoing, or in any specific industry may severely reduce the demand for the Company’s services and thereby significantly decrease the Company’s revenues and profits. Further, continued or intensifying economic, political or regulatory uncertainty in the Company’s markets could reduce demand for the Company’s services.

The Company’s business depends on a strong reputation and anything that harms its reputation will likely harm its results. As a provider of temporary and permanent staffing solutions as well as consultant services, the Company’s reputation is dependent upon the performance of the employees it places with its clients and the services rendered by its consultants. The Company depends on its reputation and name recognition to secure engagements and to hire qualified employees and consultants. If the Company’s clients become dissatisfied with the performance of those employees or consultants or if any of those employees or consultants engage in or are believed to have engaged in conduct that is harmful to the Company’s clients, the Company’s ability to maintain or expand its client base may be harmed.

The Company faces risks in operating internationally. The Company depends on operations in international markets for a significant portion of its business. These international operations are subject to a number of risks, including general political and economic conditions in those foreign countries, the burden of complying with various foreign laws and technical standards and unpredictable changes in foreign regulations, U.S. legal requirements governing U.S. companies operating in foreign

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countries, legal and cultural differences in the conduct of business, potential adverse tax consequences and difficulty in staffing and managing international operations. In addition, the Company’s business may be affected by foreign currency exchange fluctuations. In particular, the Company is subject to risk in translating its results in foreign currencies into the U.S. dollar. If the value of the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to other currencies, the Company’s reported income from these operations could decrease. The value of the U.S. dollar has recently weakened against a number of major foreign currencies, but an increase in strength relative to these other currencies could adversely impact the Company’s reported income from its international markets and cause its revenue in such markets, when translated into U.S. dollars, to decline.

Significant U.K. or European developments stemming from the U.K.’s decision to withdraw from the European Union could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In the past several years, the European market experienced economic uncertainty, which adversely affected, and the return of which may in the future adversely affect, the Company’s operations in Europe. In particular, Brexit has contributed to, and may continue to contribute to, European economic, market and regulatory uncertainty and could adversely affect European or worldwide economic, market, regulatory, or political conditions. To the extent that adverse economic conditions and uncertainty in Europe (related to Brexit or otherwise) worsen, demand for the Company’s services may decline, which could significantly harm its business and results of operations.

The currently evolving situation of the outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) has impacted demand for the Company’s services, disrupted the Company’s operations and may continue to do so. The COVID-19 outbreak emerged as a serious threat to the health and economic well-being of the Company’s clients, candidates, employees, and the overall economy. At various times during the outbreak, many counties, states and countries took dramatic action including, without limitation, ordering all nonessential workers to stay home, mandating the closure of schools and nonessential business premises and imposing isolation measures on large portions of the population. These measures, while intended to protect human life, had serious adverse impacts on domestic and foreign economies and may do so in the future if they are continued or reintroduced.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant uncertainty and volatility in the Company’s business. Initially it caused a dramatic increase in unemployment in the United States and in certain other regions in which the Company operates, and mandated business closures and slowing economic activity reduced the use of temporary workers and reduced businesses’ recruitment of new employees resulting in less demand for the Company’s services. During 2021, however, demand for workers and the Company’s services increased significantly as economic activity recovered, worksites reopened, and many business sought to restore or expand workforces that had shrunk during the course of the pandemic. There can be no assurance, however, that this increased demand for workers and the Company’s services will be sustained. Furthermore, the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus or of other illnesses may cause a rapid deterioration of economic conditions and the financial and credit markets, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company has transitioned a significant number of the Company’s employee population to a remote work environment in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This transition to remote working and the spread of COVID-19 may negatively impact the availability of key personnel necessary to conduct the Company’s business and the business and operations of the Company’s third-party service providers who perform critical services for the Company’s business. This transition to remote working has also increased the Company’s vulnerability to risks related to the Company’s computer and communications hardware and software systems and exacerbated certain related risks, including risks of phishing and other cybersecurity attacks.

The Company is continuing to monitor the spread of COVID-19, including the emerging variants of the disease, and related risks, including risks related to efforts to mitigate the disease’s spread. The rapid development and fluidity of the situation, however, precludes any prediction as to its ultimate impact on us. The emergence of new variants of the coronavirus or of other illnesses may adversely impact global economies and financial markets resulting in an economic downturn that would likely impact demand for the Company’s services. While the Company has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic thus far, its continuation or worsening may have a negative impact on the Company’s business.

Any of the above factors, or other cascading effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that are not currently foreseeable, could materially increase the Company’s costs, severely negatively impact the Company’s revenue, net income, and other results of operations, and impact the Company’s liquidity position. The duration of any such impacts cannot be predicted, and such impacts may also have the effect of heightening many of the other material risks the Company faces.

Natural disasters and unusual weather conditions, pandemic outbreaks, terrorist acts, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt business and otherwise materially adversely affect the Company's business and financial condition. With operations in many states and multiple foreign countries, the Company is subject to numerous risks outside of the Company's control, including risks arising from natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, unusual weather conditions, pandemic outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health emergencies, terrorist acts or disruptive global political events, or similar disruptions that could materially adversely affect the

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Company's business and financial performance. Historically, the Company’s operations are heavily dependent on the ability of employees and consultants to travel from business to business and from location to location. Any public health emergencies, including a real or potential global pandemic such as those caused by the avian flu, SARS, Ebola, coronavirus, or even a particularly virulent flu, could decrease demand for the Company's services and the Company's ability to offer them. Uncharacteristic or significant weather conditions may increase in frequency or severity due to climate change and can affect travel and the ability of businesses to remain open, which could lead to decreased ability to offer the Company's services and materially adversely affect the Company's short-term results of operations. In addition, these events could result in delays in placing employees and consultants, the temporary disruption in the transport of employees and consultants overseas and domestically, the inability of employees and consultants to reach or have transportation to clients directly affected by such events and disruption to the Company's information systems. Although it is not possible to predict such events or their consequences, these events could materially adversely affect the Company's reputation, business and financial condition.

Risks Related to the Company’s Operations

The Company may be unable to find sufficient candidates for its staffing business. The Company’s staffing services business consists of the placement of individuals seeking employment. There can be no assurance that candidates for employment will continue to seek employment through the Company. Candidates generally seek temporary or regular positions through multiple sources, including the Company and its competitors. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment in the United States was at historic lows and during the second half of 2021, as the economy recovered, competition for workers in a number of industries became intense. When unemployment levels are low, finding sufficient eligible candidates to meet employers’ demands is more challenging. At various times during the pandemic, this challenge has been exacerbated by the withdrawal of some workers from the labor pool, whether due to health concerns, school and daycare closures or other reasons. Any resurgence of COVID-19 may adversely impact the Company's ability to recruit sufficient candidates for certain industries or regions in which the Company operates. Any shortage of candidates could materially adversely affect the Company.

The Company operates in a highly competitive business and may be unable to retain clients or market share. The staffing services business is highly competitive and, because it is a service business, the barriers to entry are quite low. There are many competitors, some of which have greater resources than the Company, and new competitors are entering the market all the time. In addition, long-term contracts form a negligible portion of the Company’s revenue. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain clients or market share in the future. Nor can there be any assurance that the Company will, in light of competitive pressures, be able to remain profitable or, if profitable, maintain its current profit margins.

The Company may incur potential liability to employees and clients. The Company’s temporary services business entails employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients’ workplaces. The Company’s ability to control the workplace environment is limited. As the employer of record of its temporary employees, the Company incurs a risk of liability to its temporary employees for various workplace events, including claims of physical injury, discrimination, harassment or failure to protect confidential personal information. Furthermore, as the employer of record for some individuals who have been placed in client workplaces where exposure to COVID-19 is possible, the Company may be subject to risk of liability should such employees allege their workplaces failed to adequately mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19. In addition, in order to facilitate remote working arrangements, some of the Company’s temporary workers are accessing client workspaces from their personal devices through cloud-based systems, which could increase cybersecurity risks to the Company’s clients for which they may hold the Company liable. While such claims have not historically had a material adverse effect upon the Company, there can be no assurance that such claims in the future will not result in adverse publicity or have a material adverse effect upon the Company. The Company also incurs a risk of liability to its clients resulting from allegations of errors, omissions or theft by its temporary employees, or allegations of misuse of client confidential information. In some cases, the Company has agreed to indemnify its clients in respect of these types of claims. The Company maintains insurance with respect to many of such claims. While such claims have not historically had a material adverse effect upon the Company, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to be able to obtain insurance at a cost that does not have a material adverse effect upon the Company or that such claims (whether by reason of the Company not having sufficient insurance or by reason of such claims being outside the scope of the Company’s insurance) will not have a material adverse effect upon the Company.

The Company is dependent on its management personnel and employees and a failure to attract and retain such personnel could harm its business. The Company is engaged in the services business. As such, its success or failure is highly dependent upon the performance of its management personnel and employees, rather than upon technology or upon tangible assets (of which the Company has few). There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract and retain the personnel that are essential to its success.

The Company’s results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if it cannot successfully keep pace with technological changes impacting the development and implementation of its services and the evolving needs of

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its clients. The Company’s success depends on its ability to keep pace with rapid technological changes affecting both the development and implementation of its services and the staffing needs of its clients. Technological advances such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are impacting industries served by all the Company's lines of business. In addition, the Company’s business relies on a variety of technologies, including those that support hiring and tracking, order management, billing, and client data analytics. If the Company does not sufficiently invest in new technology and industry developments, appropriately implement new technologies, or evolve its business at sufficient speed and scale in response to such developments, or if it does not make the right strategic investments to respond to these developments, the Company’s services, results of operations, and ability to develop and maintain its business could be negatively affected.

The demand for the Company’s services related to regulatory compliance may decline. The operations of both the staffing services business and Protiviti include services related to Sarbanes-Oxley, Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 reviews ("AML"), and other regulatory compliance services. There can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for these services. For example, the Jumpstart Our Business Startup (“JOBS”) Act, signed into law in April of 2012, allows most companies going public in the U.S. to defer implementation of some of the provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley for up to five years after their initial public offering. Similarly, a number of proposals have been recently or are currently being considered by the U.S. Congress to further delay or, in some cases, remove the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley for a number of public companies. These or other similar modifications of the regulatory requirements could decrease demand for Protiviti’s services.

Demand for the Company’s services from government and public sector clients related to the COVID-19 pandemic may decrease over time. The Company has reported increased business from services rendered to the public sector during the pandemic due to, among other developments, the volume of unemployment claims and housing assistance claims, as well as the demands faced by public school districts that must meet the technical support requirements of virtual learning models. Additional business with public sector clients not directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported in 2021. The pandemic-related services and other work for public sector clients has contributed to the Company's revenue over the past year. It is unknown to what extent business with state, local and other public sector clients may decrease as the effects of the pandemic lessen or change over time. Demand for the Company’s services from government and public sector clients may also fall as clients adapt to the effects of the pandemic and their needs evolve. The Company will continue to monitor the situation, but the future impact of the pandemic and its effects on the needs of the Company’s clients are impossible to fully predict, and there can be no assurance that the Company’s increased business in the public sector will be sustained.

Long-term contracts do not comprise a significant portion of the Company’s revenue. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company’s staffing services business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results. Additionally, the Company’s clients will frequently enter nonexclusive arrangements with several firms, which the client is generally able to terminate on short notice and without penalty. The nature of these arrangements further exacerbates the difficulty in predicting the Company's future results.

Protiviti may be unable to attract and retain key personnel. Protiviti is a services business and is dependent upon its ability to attract and retain qualified, skilled personnel. While Protiviti has retained its key personnel to date, there can be no assurance that it will continue to be able to do so.

Protiviti operates in a highly competitive business and faces competitors who are significantly larger and have more established reputations. Protiviti operates in a highly competitive business. As with the Company’s staffing services business, the barriers to entry are quite low. There are many competitors, some of which have greater resources than Protiviti and many of which have been in operation far longer than Protiviti. In particular, Protiviti faces competition from the “big four” accounting firms, which have been in operation for a considerable period of time and have established reputations and client bases. Because the principal factors upon which competition is based are reputation, technology, tools, project methodologies, price of services and depth of skills of personnel, there can be no assurance that Protiviti will be successful in attracting and retaining clients or be able to maintain the technology, personnel and other requirements to successfully compete.

Protiviti’s operations could subject it to liability. The business of Protiviti consists of providing business consulting and internal audit services. Liability could be incurred, or litigation could be instituted against the Company or Protiviti for claims related to these activities or to prior transactions or activities. There can be no assurance that such liability or litigation will not have a material adverse impact on Protiviti or the Company.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

The Company and certain subsidiaries are defendants in several lawsuits that could cause the Company to incur substantial liabilities. The Company and certain subsidiaries are defendants in several actual or asserted class and representative action lawsuits brought by or on behalf of the Company’s current and former employees alleging violations of federal and state law with respect to certain wage and hour related matters, as well as claims challenging the Company’s compliance with the

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Fair Credit Reporting Act. The various claims made in one or more of such lawsuits include, among other things, the misclassification of certain employees as exempt employees under applicable law, failure to comply with wage statement requirements, failure to compensate certain employees for time spent performing activities related to the interviewing process, and other related wage and hour violations. Such suits seek, as applicable, unspecified amounts for unpaid overtime compensation, penalties, and other damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these lawsuits. However, these lawsuits may consume substantial amounts of the Company’s financial and managerial resources and might result in adverse publicity, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the lawsuits. In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries may become subject to similar lawsuits in the same or other jurisdictions, or to various other claims, disputes, and legal or regulatory proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. An unfavorable outcome with respect to these lawsuits and any future lawsuits or regulatory proceedings could, individually or in the aggregate, cause the Company to incur substantial liabilities or impact its operations in such a way that may have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, any future lawsuits, claims, disputes, or legal or regulatory proceedings may also consume substantial amounts of the Company’s financial and managerial resources and might result in adverse publicity, regardless of the ultimate outcome. In addition, an unfavorable outcome in one or more of these cases could cause the Company to change its compensation plans for its employees, which could have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business.

Government imposed vaccine mandates could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations. In September 2021, President Biden announced two executive orders related to vaccine mandates that would impact the Company's operations in the United States. The first executive order-- the OSHA Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) — was blocked by a stay of enforcement by the United States Supreme Court on January 13, 2022. On January 25, 2022, the Department of Labor withdrew the ETS; however, OSHA could still pursue a vaccine mandate through the regular federal rulemaking process. A second Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (“EO 14042”) would apply to the Company as a federal contractor and subcontractor. EO 14042 is also subject to legal challenges and is currently subject to a nationwide injunction during the pendency of federal court proceedings. At this time, it is unclear, among other things, if or when any federal vaccine mandates may go into effect. Further, state and local governments in the United States and in international jurisdictions where we operate may implement vaccine mandates (currently New York City has a mandate) and it is not clear if such mandates will go into effect, or stay in effect; whether any will apply to all employees or only to employees who work in the office; and how compliance will be documented. Should such mandates apply to us, we may be required to implement a requirement that all of our employees get vaccinated, subject to limited exceptions. At this time, Protiviti has implemented a vaccine requirement for its operations; however, the Company’s staffing operations do not have a vaccine requirement. Currently, it is not possible to predict the impact that a federal vaccine mandate, any other vaccine mandate, or a vaccine requirement should we elect to adopt one, will have on us or on our workforce. Any vaccine requirement or vaccine mandate, if implemented, may result in employee attrition; however, any failure to implement a vaccine requirement or mandate may also result in employee attrition or resistance to returning to onsite work, either of which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Government regulations may result in prohibition or restriction of certain types of employment services or the imposition of additional licensing or tax requirements that may reduce the Company’s future earnings. In many jurisdictions in which the Company operates, the employment services industry is heavily regulated. For example, governmental regulations in some countries restrict the length of contracts and the industries in which the Company’s employees may be used. In other countries, special taxes, fees or costs are imposed in connection with the use of its employees. Additionally, trade unions in some countries have used the political process to target the industry in an effort to increase the regulatory burden and expense associated with offering or utilizing temporary staffing solutions.

The countries in which we operate may, among other things:

•create additional regulations that prohibit or restrict the types of employment services that the Company currently provides;

•require new or additional benefits be paid to the Company’s employees;

•require the Company to obtain additional licensing to provide employment services; or

•increase taxes, such as sales or value-added taxes, payable by the providers of temporary workers.

Any future regulations may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and financial results because they may make it more difficult or expensive for the Company to continue to provide employment services. Additionally, as the Company expands existing service offerings, adds new service offerings, or enters new markets, it may become subject to additional restrictions and regulations which may impede its business, increase costs and impact profitability.

The Company’s business is subject to extensive government regulation and a failure to comply with regulations could harm its business. The Company’s business is subject to regulation or licensing in many states in the U.S. and in certain foreign

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countries. While the Company has had no material difficulty complying with regulations in the past, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to obtain all necessary licenses or approvals or that the cost of compliance will not prove to be material. Any inability of the Company to comply with government regulation or licensing requirements could materially adversely affect the Company. Further, changes to existing regulation or licensing requirements could impose additional costs and other burdens or limitations on the Company’s operations. In addition, the Company’s temporary services business entails employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients’ workplaces. Increased government regulation of the workplace or of the employer-employee relationship, or judicial or administrative proceedings related to such regulation, could materially adversely affect the Company. In addition, to the extent that government regulation imposes increased costs upon the Company, such as unemployment insurance taxes, there can be no assurance that such costs will not adversely impact the Company’s profit margins. Further, lawsuits or other proceedings related to the Company’s compliance with government regulations or licensing requirements could materially adversely affect the Company. For example, the Company is currently named as a defendant in litigation challenging its compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. It is not possible to predict the outcome of such litigation; however, such litigation or any future lawsuits or proceedings related to the Company’s compliance with government regulation or licensing requirements could consume substantial amounts of the Company’s financial and managerial resources and might result in adverse publicity, regardless of the ultimate outcome of any such lawsuits or other proceedings. An unfavorable outcome with respect to such litigation or any future lawsuits or proceedings could, individually or in the aggregate, cause the Company to incur substantial liabilities that may have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

If the Company fails to comply with Anti-Bribery Laws or economic sanction regulations, it could be subject to substantial fines or other penalties. In many parts of the world, including countries in which the Company operates and/or seeks to expand, practices in the local business community might not conform to international business standards and could violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and other anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations (“Anti-Bribery Laws”). These laws generally prohibit companies, their employees and third-party intermediaries from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, improper payments or benefits to or from any person whether in the public or private sector. In addition, the FCPA’s accounting provisions require the Company to maintain accurate books and records and a system of internal accounting controls. Any violation of the FCPA or other applicable Anti-Bribery Laws could result in substantial fines, sanctions or civil and/or criminal penalties, debarment from business dealings with certain governments or government agencies or restrictions on the marketing of the Company’s products in certain countries, which could harm the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and other relevant agencies of the U.S. government administer certain laws and regulations that restrict U.S. persons and, in some instances, non-U.S. persons, from conducting activities, transacting business with or making investments in certain countries, or with governments, entities and individuals, subject to U.S. economic sanctions. Similar economic sanctions are imposed by the European Union and other jurisdictions. The Company’s international operations subject it to these laws and regulations, which are complex, restrict the Company’s business dealings with certain countries, governments, entities and individuals, and are constantly changing. Penalties for noncompliance with these complex laws and regulations can be significant and include substantial fines, sanctions or civil and/or criminal penalties, and violations can result in adverse publicity, which could harm the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Although the Company has implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with Anti-Bribery Laws, economic sanctions, and other laws and regulations, the Company cannot be sure that its employees, agents or other third parties will not violate such policies or applicable laws and regulations. Any such violations could result in significant fines and penalties, criminal sanctions against the Company, its officers or its employees, prohibitions on the conduct of its business, and materially damage the Company’s reputation, brand, business and operating results. Further, detecting, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of the Company’s senior management.

Health care reform could increase the costs of the Company’s temporary staffing operations. In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the “PPACA”) was signed into law in the United States. In 2015, the Company redesigned its employee benefits to offer health insurance coverage to its temporary candidates in order to meet the requirements of the PPACA’s employer mandate.

The U.S. Congress has made several attempts to repeal or modify the PPACA and in 2020, the United States Supreme Court heard an appeal of a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that invalidated significant portions of the PPACA. It is unclear at this point what the scope of any such future legislation will be and when it will become effective. Because of the uncertainty surrounding proposed replacement health care reform legislation or any modifications to such legislation to deal with these court challenges, the Company cannot predict with any certainty the likely impact of the PPACA’s repeal or the adoption of any other health care reform legislation on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

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Whether or not there is alternative health care legislation enacted in the U.S., there is likely to be significant disruption to the health care market in the coming months and years, and the costs of the Company’s health care expenditures may increase.

Risks Related to the Company’s Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Data Protection

The Company’s computer and communications hardware and software systems are vulnerable to damage and interruption. The Company’s ability to manage its operations successfully is critical to its success and largely depends upon the efficient and uninterrupted operation of its computer and communications hardware and software systems, some of which are managed by third-party vendors. The Company’s primary computer systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, catastrophic events and errors in usage by the Company’s employees and those of the Company’s vendors.

The Company’s employees or vendors may have access or exposure to personally identifiable or otherwise confidential information and customer data and systems, the misuse of which could result in legal liability. Cyberattacks, including attacks motivated by grievances against the business services industry in general or against the Company in particular, may disable or damage its systems. It is possible that the Company’s security controls or those of its third-party vendors over personal and other data, and other practices it follows, may not prevent the improper access to or disclosure of personally identifiable or otherwise confidential information. Such disclosure or damage to the Company’s systems could harm its reputation and subject it to government sanctions and liability under its contracts and laws that protect personal data and confidential information, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue. The potential risk of security breaches and cyberattacks may increase as the Company introduces new service offerings.

Changes in data privacy and protection laws and regulations in respect of control of personal information could increase the Company’s costs or otherwise adversely impact its operations. In the ordinary course of business, the Company collects, uses, and retains personal information from its employees, employment candidates, and contractors, including, without limitation, full names, government-issued identification numbers, addresses, birthdates, and payroll-related information. The possession and use of personal information in conducting the Company’s business subjects it to a variety of complex and evolving domestic and foreign laws and regulations regarding data privacy, protection and security, which, in many cases, apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information among the Company and its subsidiaries. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became effective in May 2018, imposes stringent operational requirements for entities processing personal information, such as strong safeguards for data transfers to countries outside the European Union and strong enforcement authorities and mechanisms. Complying with the enhanced obligations imposed by the GDPR and other current and future laws and regulations relating to data transfer, residency, privacy and protection has increased and may continue to increase the Company’s operating costs and require significant management time and attention, while any failure by the Company or its subsidiaries to comply with applicable laws could result in governmental enforcement actions, fines, and other penalties that could potentially have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations and reputation.

Risks Related to the Company’s Internal Controls and Accounting Policies

Failure to maintain adequate financial and management processes and controls could lead to errors in the Company’s financial reporting. Failure to maintain adequate financial and management processes and controls could lead to errors in the Company’s financial reporting. If the Company’s management is unable to certify the effectiveness of its internal controls or if its independent registered public accounting firm cannot render an opinion on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, or if material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls are identified, the Company could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence. In addition, if the Company does not maintain adequate financial and management personnel, processes and controls, it may not be able to accurately report its financial performance on a timely basis, which could cause its stock price to fall.

Failure to identify and respond to risk issues in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. Although the Company has processes in place to attempt to identify and respond to risk issues in a timely manner, the Company's efforts may not be sufficient.

The collective impact of the tone at the top, tone in the middle and tone at the bottom on risk management, compliance and responsible business behavior has a huge effect on timely escalation of risk issues, particularly those affecting core operations. The Company’s processes, corporate culture and general ethical climate may not be sufficient to ensure timely identification and escalation of significant risk issues.

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General Risk Factors

U.S. federal tax regulations and interpretations could adversely affect the Company. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”) was signed into law. Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of these changes on the Company’s results of operations will likely evolve as new regulations and interpretations relating to the TCJA are implemented. In addition, various political figures have pledged their support to overturning or modifying key aspects of the TCJA which could further increase the uncertainty relating to the impact of this or any future tax legislation on the Company’s results of operations.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

Item 2.    Properties

The Company’s headquarters operations are located in Menlo Park and San Ramon, California. As of December 31, 2021, temporary and permanent placement activities were conducted through 321 offices located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, and Chile. As of December 31, 2021, Protiviti had 64 offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, India, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. All of the offices are leased.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

On March 23, 2015, Plaintiff Jessica Gentry, on her own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of allegedly similarly situated individuals, filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, which was subsequently amended on October 23, 2015. The complaint alleges that a putative class of current and former employees of the Company working in California since March 13, 2010 were denied compensation for the time they spent interviewing “for temporary and permanent employment opportunities” as well as performing activities related to the interview process. Gentry seeks recovery on her own behalf and on behalf of the putative class in an unspecified amount for this allegedly unpaid compensation. Gentry also seeks recovery of an unspecified amount for the alleged failure of the Company to provide her and the putative class with accurate wage statements. Gentry also seeks an unspecified amount of other damages, attorneys’ fees, and statutory penalties, including penalties for allegedly not paying all wages due upon separation to former employees and statutory penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “aggrieved employees” as defined by California’s Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”). On January 4, 2016, the Court denied a motion by the Company to compel all of Gentry’s claims, except the PAGA claim, to individual arbitration. At this stage of the litigation, it is not feasible to predict the outcome of or a range of loss, should a loss occur, from this proceeding and, accordingly, no amounts have been provided in the Company’s Financial Statements. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and the Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the litigation.

On April 6, 2018, Plaintiff Shari Dorff, on her own behalf and on behalf of a putative class of allegedly similarly situated individuals, filed a complaint against the Company in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. In addition to certain claims individual to Plaintiff Dorff, the complaint alleges that salaried recruiters based in California have been misclassified as exempt employees and seeks an unspecified amount for: unpaid wages resulting from such alleged misclassification; alleged failure to provide a reasonable opportunity to take meal periods and rest breaks; alleged failure to pay wages on a timely basis both during employment and upon separation; alleged failure to comply with California requirements regarding wage statements and record-keeping; and alleged improper denial of expense reimbursement. Plaintiff Dorff also seeks an unspecified amount of other damages, attorneys’ fees, and penalties, including but not limited to statutory penalties on behalf of herself and other allegedly “aggrieved employees” as defined by PAGA. At this stage of the litigation, it is not feasible to predict the outcome of or a range of loss, should a loss occur, from this proceeding and, accordingly, no amounts have been provided in the Company’s Financial Statements. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and the Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the litigation.

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On February 9, 2022 the Company received notice of a complaint filed by Jessica K. Altman, Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in her capacity as the Statutory Rehabilitator of Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania. The complaint filed on January 28, 2022, in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania names certain former executive officers of Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (“SHIP”) and Protiviti Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, as defendants. The case arises from the financial deterioration of SHIP, a life insurance company that administers long term care insurance policies. The claims asserted against Protiviti are primarily connected to its role and its performance of limited agreed upon procedures regarding certain SHIP investments. Plaintiff seeks judgment in excess of $500 million against the defendants in the case. Given the timing of notice of this lawsuit, the Company has not completed a review of the claims, or an assessment of the potential liability asserted in the pleadings. At this stage of the litigation, it is not feasible to predict the outcome or range of loss, should a loss occur, from this proceeding and, accordingly, no amounts have been reserved in the Company’s Financial Statements. Based on the Company’s initial review of the claims, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the allegations and intends to vigorously defend against the litigation.

The Company is involved in a number of other lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. While management does not expect any of these other matters to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows, litigation is subject to certain inherent uncertainties.

Legal costs associated with the resolution of claims, lawsuits and other contingencies are expensed as incurred.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosure

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Price, Dividends and Related Matters

The Company’s Common Stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RHI”. On January 31, 2022, there were 1,185 holders of record of the Common Stock.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans	Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plans (b)
October 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021	—		$	—	—	7,694,176
November 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021	259,591		$	116.02	259,591	7,434,585
December 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021	376,471	(a)	$	108.61	282,892	7,151,693
Total October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021	636,062				542,483

(a)Includes 93,579 shares repurchased in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of applicable withholding taxes.

(b)Commencing in October 1997, the Company's Board of Directors has, at various times, authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of the Company's common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions depending on market conditions. Since plan inception, a total of 128,000,000 shares have been authorized for repurchase of which 120,848,307 shares have been repurchased as of December 31, 2021.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights A	Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights B	Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column A) C
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	—	—	3,945,882
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	—	—	—
Total	—	—	3,945,882

Since May 2005, all grants have been made pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by stockholders in May 2005 and re-approved in May 2008, May 2011, May 2013, May 2014, and May 2019. Such plan authorizes the issuance of stock options, restricted stock, stock units and stock appreciation rights to directors, executive officers and employees.

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Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares, through December 31, 2021, the cumulative total return of the Company’s Common Stock, an index of certain publicly traded employment services companies, and the S&P 500. The graph assumes the investment of $100 at the beginning of the period depicted in the chart and reinvestment of all dividends. The peer companies are weighted by their respective market caps at the beginning of each period. The information presented in the graph was obtained by the Company from outside sources it considers to be reliable but has not been independently verified by the Company.

(a)This index represents the cumulative total return of the Company and the following corporations providing temporary or permanent employment services: Kelly Services, Inc.; Kforce Inc.; ManpowerGroup; and Resources Connection Inc.

Item 6. Reserved

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain information contained in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and in other parts of this report may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the future operating results or financial positions of Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company"). These statements may be identified by words such as “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes to or new interpretations of U.S. or international tax regulations, the global financial and economic situation; the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate its spread; changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the United States or foreign countries where the Company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of candidates for contract employment or the Company’s ability to attract candidates; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the Company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the Company’s services, on the Company’s ability to maintain its margins; the possibility of the Company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its engagement professionals, or for events impacting its engagement professionals on clients’ premises; the possibility that adverse publicity could impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain clients and candidates; the success of the Company in attracting, training, and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; the Company’s ability to comply with governmental regulations affecting personnel services businesses in particular or employer/employee relationships in general; whether there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; the Company’s reliance on short-term contracts for a significant percentage of its business; litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities, including litigation that may be disclosed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings; the ability of the Company to manage its international operations and comply with foreign laws and regulations; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the possibility that the additional costs the Company will incur as a result of health care or other reform legislation may adversely affect the Company’s profit margins or the demand for the Company’s services; the possibility that the Company’s computer and communications hardware and software systems could be damaged or their service interrupted or the Company could experience a cybersecurity breach; and the possibility that the Company may fail to maintain adequate financial and management controls and as a result suffer errors in its financial reporting. Additionally, with respect to Protiviti, other risks and uncertainties include the fact that future success will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; there can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for broad based consulting, regulatory compliance, technology services, public sector or other high demand advisory services; failure to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and there is the possibility of involvement in litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company’s business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results.

Executive Overview

The Company achieved record levels of service revenues and net income during 2021 due to a broad-based, global acceleration in demand for its staffing and business consulting services. Annual service revenues reached $6.46 billion in 2021, increasing 26.5% from the prior year. Full-year 2021 net income increased 95.5% to $599 million and diluted net income per share increased 98.5% to $5.36.

The future of work increasingly includes flexible, hybrid and fully remote models and the Company can deliver deeper skills and more price-point choices to its clients by expanding candidate searches beyond local markets while leveraging its global office network and advanced AI-driven technologies. The expanded acceptance of remote work creates significant opportunity for the Company. It brings together the Company's numerous strengths, including its global brand, global office network, global candidate database, and advanced AI-driven technologies and data analytics at the scale needed to excel at out-of-market recruitment and placements. This strengthens the Company's competitive position significantly since its traditionally toughest competitors, local and regional staffing firms, generally do not have these capabilities.

Protiviti continues to be a strong differentiator for the Company, with multiple years of consecutive growth and a highly diversified client base and suite of solution offerings. Growth remains strong across internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance improvement. Technology consulting is the largest solution group with particular strength in cybersecurity and privacy solutions as well as enterprise applications and data analytics. The Company continues to see positive results in the collaboration between Protiviti and staffing, which pairs Protiviti's world-class consulting talent with staffing's deep operational resources to provide a cost-effective solution to clients' skills and scalability needs. Protiviti has also benefited from project work in the public sector resulting from various governmental stimulus programs.

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Demand for the Company’s temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services is largely dependent upon general economic and labor trends both domestically and abroad. The United States economic backdrop during 2021 was conducive to growth for the Company as real gross domestic product (“GDP”) increased 5.7% in 2021, compared to a decrease of 3.5% in 2020, while the unemployment rate declined from 6.7% in December 2020 to 3.9% in December 2021. In the United States, the number of job openings exceeded the number of hires at the end of December 2021, creating competition for skilled talent that increases the Company's value to clients. The U.S. labor market remains robust, with significant demand due to talent shortages across professional disciplines.

We monitor various economic indicators and business trends in all of the countries in which we operate to anticipate demand for the Company’s services. We evaluate these trends to determine the appropriate level of investment, including personnel, which will best position the Company for success in the current and future global macroeconomic environment. The Company’s investments in headcount are typically structured to proactively support and align with expected revenue growth trends and productivity metrics. We have limited visibility into future revenues not only due to the dependence on macroeconomic conditions noted above, but also because of the relatively short duration of the Company’s client engagements. Accordingly, we typically assess headcount and other investments on at least a quarterly basis. During 2021, the Company increased headcount across all segments, when compared to prior year-end levels.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

As described below, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates are those that involve subjective decisions or assessments.

Service Revenues.    The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. See Note C—"Revenue Recognition" to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.

Income Taxes.    The Company’s operations are subject to U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign income taxes. In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its provision for income taxes, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws that are applicable to its operations in various jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured and recorded using current enacted tax rates, which the Company expects will apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are recovered or settled. The likelihood of a material change in the Company’s expected realization of its deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income and the effectiveness of its tax planning in the various relevant jurisdictions.

The Company also evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. Management evaluates all positive and negative evidence and uses judgment regarding past and future events, including operating results, to help determine when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. When appropriate, a valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets to offset future tax benefits that may not be realized. Valuation allowances of $24.2 million and $24.1 million were recorded as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The valuation allowances recorded relate primarily to net operating losses in certain foreign operations. If such losses are ultimately utilized to offset future operating income, the Company will recognize a tax benefit up to the full amount of the related valuation reserve.

While management believes that its judgments and interpretations regarding income taxes are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience may materially affect the future financial results of the Company.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note B—"New Accounting Pronouncements" to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.

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Results of Operations

The Company analyzes its operating results for three reportable segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing and risk consulting and internal audit services. The temporary and consultant staffing segment provides specialized staffing in the accounting and finance, administrative and office, information technology, legal, advertising, marketing, and web design fields. The permanent placement staffing segment provides full-time personnel in the accounting, finance, administrative and office, and information technology fields. The risk consulting and internal audit services segment provides internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance improvement services.

Demand for the Company’s temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing and risk consulting and internal audit services is largely dependent upon general economic and labor market conditions both domestically and abroad. Because of the inherent difficulty in predicting economic trends, future demand for the Company’s services cannot be forecast with certainty. Results for the full year 2021 show that the recovery from the recent economic downturn has surpassed pre-pandemic levels and continues with strong momentum and continued broad-based demand for the Company's staffing and business consulting services. The Company will continue to invest in its people, its technology, its brands and its business model to strengthen the ability to connect people to meaningful and exciting new work and provide clients with the talent and deep subject matter expertise they need to confidently compete and grow.

The Company’s temporary and permanent staffing business conducts placement activities through 321 offices in 42 states, the District of Columbia and 17 foreign countries, while Protiviti has 64 offices in 24 states and 12 foreign countries.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial results of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules of the SEC. To help readers understand the Company’s financial performance, the Company supplements its GAAP financial results with the following non-GAAP measures: as adjusted revenue growth rates; adjusted gross margin; adjusted selling, general and administrative expense; segment income and combined segment income.

Variations in the Company’s financial results include the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and billing days. The Company provides “as adjusted” revenue growth calculations to remove the impact of these items. These calculations show the year-over-year revenue growth rates for the Company’s lines of business on both a reported basis and also on an as adjusted basis for global, U.S., and international operations. The Company has provided this data because it focuses on the Company’s revenue growth rates attributable to operating activities and aids in evaluating revenue trends over time. The Company expresses year-over-year revenue changes as calculated percentages using the same number of billing days and constant currency exchange rates.

In order to calculate constant currency revenue growth rates, as reported amounts are retranslated using foreign currency exchange rates from the prior year’s comparable period. Management then calculates a global, weighted-average number of billing days for each reporting period based upon input from all countries and all lines of business. In order to remove the fluctuations caused by comparable periods having different billing days, the Company calculates same billing day revenue growth rates by dividing each comparative period’s reported revenues by the calculated number of billing days for that period to arrive at a per billing day amount. Same billing day growth rates are then calculated based upon the per billing day amounts. The term “as adjusted” means that the impact of different billing days and currency fluctuations are removed from the revenue growth rate calculation.

The following measures: adjusted gross margin; adjusted selling, general and administrative expense; and segment income include gains and losses on investments held to fund the Company’s obligations under employee deferred compensation plans. The Company provides these measures because they are used by management to review its operational results.

Combined segment income is income before income taxes adjusted for interest income, net and amortization of intangible assets. The Company provides combined segment income because it is how management evaluates segment performance.

The non-GAAP financial measures provided herein may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in the Company’s industry, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to amounts presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided on the following pages.

Refer to Item 7a. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for further discussion of the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

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Years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

Service Revenues.    The Company’s revenues were $6.46 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 26.5%, compared to $5.11 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Revenues from U.S. operations increased 25.6% to $5.01 billion (77.5% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $3.98 billion (78.0% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2020. Revenues from foreign operations increased 29.4% to $1.45 billion (22.5% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $1.12 billion (22.0% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2020. The economic recovery in the United States and abroad contributed to the increased broad-based demand for the Company’s staffing and business consulting services. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.

Temporary and consultant staffing revenues were $4.04 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 16.1% compared to revenues of $3.48 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Key drivers of temporary and consultant staffing revenues include average hourly bill rates and the number of hours worked by the Company’s engagement professionals on client engagements. On an as adjusted basis, temporary and consultant staffing revenues increased 15.5% for 2021 compared to 2020, due primarily to an increase in the number of hours worked by the Company's engagement professionals and a 5.3% increase in weighted average bill rates, adjusted for changes in the mix of revenues by line of business, currency and country. In the U.S., 2021 revenues increased 15.6% on an as reported basis, and increased 16.1% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020. For the Company’s international operations, 2021 revenues increased 17.9% on an as reported basis, and increased 13.4% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020.

Permanent placement staffing revenues were $570 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 54.0% compared to revenues of $370 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Key drivers of permanent placement staffing revenues consist of the number of candidate placements and average fees earned per placement. On an as adjusted basis, permanent placement staffing revenues increased 52.6% for 2021 compared to 2020, driven by increases in the number of placements and average fees earned per placement. In the U.S., 2021 revenues increased 55.2% on an as reported basis, and increased 55.8% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020. For the Company’s international operations, 2021 revenues increased 51.3% on an as reported basis, and increased 45.7% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020. Historically, demand for permanent placement services is even more sensitive to economic and labor market conditions than demand for temporary and consultant staffing and this is expected to continue.

Risk consulting and internal audit services revenues were $1.85 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 46.9% compared to revenues of $1.26 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Key drivers of risk consulting and internal audit services revenues are the billable hours worked by consultants on client engagements and average hourly bill rates. On an as adjusted basis, risk consulting and internal audit services revenues increased 46.2% for 2021 compared to 2020, driven primarily by an increase in billable hours. In the U.S., 2021 revenues increased 45.1% on an as reported basis, and increased 45.6% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020. For the Company’s international operations, 2021 revenues increased 54.0% on an as reported basis, and increased 48.6% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2020.

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A reconciliation of the non-GAAP year-over-year revenue growth rates to the as reported year-over-year revenue growth rates for the year ended December 31, 2021, is presented in the following table:

	Global		United States		International
Temporary and consultant staffing
As Reported	16.1	%	15.6	%	17.9	%
Billing Days Impact	0.4	%	0.5	%	0.2	%
Currency Impact	-1.0	%	—		-4.7	%
As Adjusted	15.5	%	16.1	%	13.4	%
Permanent placement staffing
As Reported	54.0	%	55.2	%	51.3	%
Billing Days Impact	0.5	%	0.6	%	0.3	%
Currency Impact	-1.9	%	—		-5.9	%
As Adjusted	52.6	%	55.8	%	45.7	%
Risk consulting and internal audit services
As Reported	46.9	%	45.1	%	54.0	%
Billing Days Impact	0.4	%	0.5	%	0.3	%
Currency Impact	-1.1	%	—		-5.7	%
As Adjusted	46.2	%	45.6	%	48.6	%

Gross Margin.    The Company’s gross margin dollars were $2.70 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, up 34.0% from $2.01 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.

Gross margin dollars for temporary and consultant staffing represent revenues less costs of services, which consist of payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs for engagement professionals, and reimbursable expenses. The key drivers of gross margin are: i) pay-bill spreads, which represent the differential between wages paid to engagement professionals and amounts billed to clients; ii) fringe costs, which are primarily composed of payroll taxes and benefit costs; and iii) conversion revenues, which are earned when a temporary position converts to a permanent position with the Company’s client. Gross margin dollars for the Company’s temporary and consultant staffing division were $1.60 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, up 21.8% from $1.31 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, gross margin dollars for temporary and consultant staffing were 39.6% in 2021, up from 37.8% in 2020. This year-over-year improvement in gross margin percentage was primarily attributable to higher pay-bill spreads and higher conversion revenues.

Gross margin dollars for permanent placement staffing represent revenues less reimbursable expenses. Gross margin dollars for the Company’s permanent placement staffing division were $569 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, up 54.0% from $369 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Because reimbursable expenses for permanent placement staffing services are de minimis, the increase in gross margin dollars is substantially explained by the increase in revenues previously discussed.

Gross margin dollars for risk consulting and internal audit services represent revenues less costs of services, which consist primarily of professional staff payroll, payroll taxes, benefit costs and reimbursable expenses. The primary drivers of risk consulting and internal audit services gross margin are: i) the relative composition of and number of professional staff and their respective pay and bill rates; and ii) staff utilization, which is the relationship of time spent on client engagements in proportion to the total time available for the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services staff. Gross margin dollars for the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit division were $528 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, up 59.9% from $330 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, reported gross margin dollars for risk consulting and internal audit services were 28.5% in 2021, up from 26.2% in 2020. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted gross margin dollars for risk consulting and internal audit services were 29.0% in 2021, up from 27.1% in 2020. The year-over-year increase in gross margin percentage was due to higher staff utilization rates and the relative composition of and number of professional staff and their respective pay and bill rates.

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of staff compensation, advertising, variable overhead, depreciation, and occupancy costs. The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.95 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, up 17.1% from $1.67 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses were 30.2% in 2021, down from 32.6% in 2020. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were 29.4% in 2021, down from 31.4% in 2020. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Company’s temporary and consultant staffing division were $1.25 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 10.5% from $1.13 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses for temporary and consultant staffing were 31.0% in 2021, down from 32.6% in 2020. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses for temporary and consultant staffing were 29.8% in 2021, down from 30.9% in 2020, due primarily to positive leverage from an increase in revenues.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Company’s permanent placement staffing division were $468 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 35.0% from $347 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses for permanent placement staffing services were 82.1% in 2021, down from 93.7% in 2020. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses for permanent placement staffing was 81.2% in 2021, down from 92.0% in 2020, due primarily to positive leverage from an increase in revenues.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services division were $232 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, increasing by 24.3% from $186 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As a percentage of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses for risk consulting and internal audit services were 12.5% in 2021, down from 14.8% in 2020, due primarily to positive operating leverage resulting from increased revenue. 

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A reconciliation of the non-GAAP adjusted summary of operations to the reported summary of operations, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented in the following table (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,												Relationships
	2021						2020						2021		2020		2021		2020
	Reported		Adjustments		Adjusted (1)		Reported		Adjustments		Adjusted (1)		Reported				Adjusted
SERVICE REVENUES:
Accountemps	$	1,870,563	$	—	$	1,870,563	$	1,558,024	$	—	$	1,558,024	29.0	%	30.5	%	29.0	%	30.5	%
OfficeTeam	1,058,906		—		1,058,906		764,947		—		764,947		16.4	%	15.0	%	16.4	%	15.0	%
Robert Half Technology	795,319		—		795,319		695,418		—		695,418		12.3	%	13.6	%	12.3	%	13.6	%
Robert Half Management Resources	894,334		—		894,334		698,942		—		698,942		13.8	%	13.7	%	13.8	%	13.7	%
Elimination of intersegment revenues	(580,379)		—		(580,379)		(239,996)		—		(239,996)		(9.0	%)	(4.7	%)	(9.0	%)	(4.7	%)
Temporary and consultant staffing	4,038,743		—		4,038,743		3,477,335		—		3,477,335		62.5	%	68.1	%	62.5	%	68.1	%
Permanent placement staffing	569,921		—		569,921		370,109		—		370,109		8.8	%	7.2	%	8.8	%	7.2	%
Protiviti	1,852,780		—		1,852,780		1,261,556		—		1,261,556		28.7	%	24.7	%	28.7	%	24.7	%
Total	$	6,461,444	$	—	$	6,461,444	$	5,109,000	$	—	$	5,109,000	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
GROSS MARGIN:
Temporary and consultant staffing	$	1,598,716	$	—	$	1,598,716	$	1,312,797	$	—	$	1,312,797	39.6	%	37.8	%	39.6	%	37.8	%
Permanent placement staffing	568,983		—		568,983		369,401		—		369,401		99.8	%	99.8	%	99.8	%	99.8	%
Protiviti	528,329		8,847		537,176		330,413		11,682		342,095		28.5	%	26.2	%	29.0	%	27.1	%
Total	$	2,696,028	$	8,847	$	2,704,875	$	2,012,611	$	11,682	$	2,024,293	41.7	%	39.4	%	41.9	%	39.6	%
SELLING GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE:
Temporary and consultant staffing	$	1,251,565	$	(46,721)	$	1,204,844	$	1,132,915	$	(57,397)	$	1,075,518	31.0	%	32.6	%	29.8	%	30.9	%
Permanent placement staffing	468,028		(5,510)		462,518		346,711		(6,109)		340,602		82.1	%	93.7	%	81.2	%	92.0	%
Protiviti	231,689		—		231,689		186,415		—		186,415		12.5	%	14.8	%	12.5	%	14.8	%
Total	$	1,951,282	$	(52,231)	$	1,899,051	$	1,666,041	$	(63,506)	$	1,602,535	30.2	%	32.6	%	29.4	%	31.4	%
OPERATING/SEGMENT INCOME:
Temporary and consultant staffing	$	347,151	$	46,721	$	393,872	$	179,882	$	57,397	$	237,279	8.6	%	5.2	%	9.8	%	6.8	%
Permanent placement staffing	100,955		5,510		106,465		22,690		6,109		28,799		17.7	%	6.1	%	18.7	%	7.8	%
Protiviti	296,640		8,847		305,487		143,998		11,682		155,680		16.0	%	11.4	%	16.5	%	12.3	%
Total	$	744,746	$	61,078	$	805,824	$	346,570	$	75,188	$	421,758	11.5	%	6.8	%	12.5	%	8.3	%
Income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts	(61,078)		61,078		—		(75,188)		75,188		—		(1.0	%)	(1.5	%)	—		—
Amortization of intangible assets	2,241		—		2,241		1,219		—		1,219		0.1	%	0.0	%	0.1	%	0.0	%
Interest income, net	(197)		—		(197)		(1,343)		—		(1,343)		0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%
Income before income taxes	$	803,780	$	—	$	803,780	$	421,882	$	—	$	421,882	12.4	%	8.3	%	12.4	%	8.3	%

(1)Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations are included in selling, general and administrative expense or, in the case of Protiviti, costs of services, while the related investment income is presented separately. The non-GAAP financial measures shown in the table above are adjusted to reclassify investment income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts to the same line item, which includes the corresponding change in obligation. These adjustments have no impact to income before income taxes.

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Income from Investments Held in Employee Deferred Compensation Trusts. Under the Company’s employee deferred compensation plans, employees direct the investment of their account balances, and the Company invests amounts held in the associated investment trusts consistent with these directions. As realized and unrealized investment gains and losses occur, the Company’s employee deferred compensation obligation to employees changes accordingly. Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations noted above remain in selling, general and administrative, or in the case of the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services division, costs of services. The value of the related investment trust assets also changes by the equal and offsetting amount, leaving no net costs to the Company. The Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts consists primarily of unrealized and realized gains and losses and dividend income from trust investments. The Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts was $61 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, down from $75 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in income from trust investments was due to lower market returns in 2021, when compared to 2020.

Income Before Income Taxes and Segment Income. The Company’s total income before income taxes was $804 million, or 12.4% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2021, up from $422 million or 8.3% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020. Combined segment income was $806 million, or 12.5% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2021, up from $422 million, or 8.3% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP combined segment income to reported income before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Income before income taxes	$	803,780	$	421,882
Interest income, net	(197)		(1,343)
Amortization of intangible assets	2,241		1,219
Combined segment income	$	805,824	$	421,758

For the Company’s temporary and consultant staffing division, segment income was $394 million, or 9.8% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2021, up from $237 million, or 6.8% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020. For the Company’s permanent placement staffing division, segment income was $106 million, or 18.7% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2021, up from segment income of $29 million, or 7.8% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020. For the Company’s risk consulting and internal audit services division, segment income was $305 million, or 16.5% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to segment income of $156 million, or 12.3% of applicable revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Provision for income taxes. The provision for income taxes was 25.5% and 27.4% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The lower tax rate for 2021 can be attributed to better coverage of non-deductible expenses due to higher income in 2021, as well as higher stock compensation deductions due to the rise in the Company's stock price.

Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

A discussion of changes regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2021, which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at www.roberthalf.com/investor-center.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The change in the Company’s liquidity during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, is primarily the net effect of funds generated by operations and the funds used for capital expenditures, investment in employee deferred compensation trusts, net of redemptions from employee deferred compensation trusts, repurchases of common stock, and payment of dividends.

Cash and cash equivalents were $619 million and $574 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Operating activities provided $603 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, offset by $88 million and $459 million of net cash used in investing activities and financing activities, respectively. Operating and investing activities provided $597 million and $9 million, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2020, offset by $315 million of net cash used in financing activities.

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Operating activities—Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $603 million. This was composed of net income of $599 million adjusted upward for non-cash items of $89 million, offset by net cash used in changes in working capital of $85 million. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $597 million. This was composed of net income of $306 million, adjusted upward for non-cash items of $59 million, and net cash provided by changes in working capital of $232 million.

Investing activities—Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $88 million. This was composed of capital expenditures of $37 million and investments in employee deferred compensation trusts of $85 million, offset by proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions of $34 million. Cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $9 million. This was composed of proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions of $123 million, largely offset by capital expenditures of $33 million, investments in employee deferred compensation trusts of $65 million, and $16 million cash paid for an acquisition.

Capital expenditures, including $31 million related to cloud computing implementations, in 2021, totaled $68 million, approximately 84% of which represented investments in software initiatives and technology infrastructure, both of which are important to the Company’s sustainability and future growth opportunities. Capital expenditures for cloud computing arrangements are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Capital expenditures included amounts spent on tenant improvements and furniture and equipment in the Company’s leased offices. We currently expect that 2022 capitalized expenditures will range from $95 million to $105 million, of which $75 million to $80 million relates to software initiatives and technology infrastructure, including capitalized costs relating to the implementation of cloud computing arrangements.

Financing activities—Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $459 million. This included repurchases of $288 million in common stock and $171 million in dividends paid to stockholders. Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $315 million. This included repurchases of $159 million in common stock and $156 million in dividends paid to stockholders.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company is authorized to repurchase, from time to time, up to 7.2 million additional shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company repurchased 2.8 million shares, at a cost of $260 million, and 2.5 million shares, at a cost of $138 million, on the open market, respectively. Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of exercise price and applicable statutory withholding taxes. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, such repurchases totaled 0.3 million shares, at a cost of $30 million, and 0.4 million shares, at a cost of $17 million, respectively. Repurchases of shares have been funded with cash generated from operations.

The Company’s working capital as of December 31, 2021 included $619 million in cash and cash equivalents and $985 million in accounts receivable, both of which will be a significant source of ongoing liquidity and financial resilience. The Company expects that internally generated cash will be sufficient to support the working capital needs of the Company, the Company’s fixed payments, dividends, and other obligations on both a short-term and long-term basis.

There is limited visibility into future cash flows as the Company’s revenues are dependent on macroeconomic conditions. The Company’s variable direct costs related to its temporary and consultant staffing business will largely fluctuate in relation to its revenues.

In May 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to extend the maturity of its $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) to May 2024. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest in accordance with the terms of the borrowing, which typically will be calculated according to the LIBOR, or an alternative base rate, plus an applicable margin. The Credit Agreement is subject to certain financial covenants and the Company was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2021. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

On February 10, 2022, the Company announced a quarterly dividend of $.43 per share to be paid to all shareholders of record as of February 25, 2022. The dividend will be paid on March 15, 2022.

Material Cash Requirements from Contractual Obligations

Leases. As of December 31, 2021, the Company reported current and long-term operating lease liabilities of $83.8 million and $181.3 million, respectively. These balances consist of the minimum rental commitments for 2022 and thereafter, discounted to reflect the Company’s cost of borrowing, under noncancelable lease contracts executed as of December 31, 2021.

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The majority of these leases are for real estate. In the event the Company vacates a location prior to the end of the lease term, the Company may be obliged to continue making lease payments. For further information, see Note F— “Leases” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.

Purchase Obligations. As of December 31, 2021, the Company incurred contractual purchase obligations of $127.9 million primarily related to software subscriptions, services, telecom service and software maintenance agreements. Of this amount, $70.4 million is expected to be paid within the next twelve months. These purchase obligations are incurred during the normal course of business.

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan. As of December 31, 2021, the Company reported deferred compensation plan obligations of $535.3 million in its accompanying consolidated statements of financial position. The balances are due to employees based upon elections they make at the time of deferring their funds. The timing of these payments may change based upon factors including termination of the Company’s employment arrangement with a participant. Assets of these plans are held by an independent trustee for the sole benefit of participating employees and consist of money market funds and mutual funds. For further information, see Note I—“Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company continues to monitor the global economic uncertainty as a result the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the impact on its results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Because a portion of the Company’s net revenues are derived from its operations outside the U.S. and are denominated in local currencies, the Company is exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. The Company’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rates relates primarily to the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar value of the Company’s reported revenues, expenses, earnings, assets and liabilities.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 22.5% of the Company’s revenues were generated outside of the United States. These operations transact business in their functional currency, which is the same as their local currency. As a result, fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, particularly the Canadian dollar, British pound, Euro, Australian dollar and Brazilian real, have an impact on the Company’s reported results. Under GAAP, revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Consequently, as the value of the U.S. dollar changes relative to the currencies of the Company’s non-U.S. markets, the Company’s reported results vary.

During 2021, the U.S. dollar fluctuated, and generally weakened, against the primary currencies in which the Company conducts business, compared to one year ago. Currency exchange rates had the effect of increasing reported service revenues by $56.9 million, or 1.1%, in 2021, compared to the prior year. The general weakening of the U.S. dollar also affected the reported level of expenses incurred in the Company’s foreign operations. Because substantially all the Company’s foreign operations generated revenues and incurred expenses within the same country and currency, the effect of higher reported revenues is largely offset by the increase in reported operating expenses. Reported net income was $3.4 million, or 1.1%, higher in 2021 compared to the prior year due to the effect of currency exchange rates.

For the one month ended January 31, 2022, the U.S. dollar has strengthened against the Euro, Canadian Dollar, British Pound and Australian Dollar and weakened against the Brazilian Real since December 31, 2021. If currency exchange rates were to remain at January 2022 levels throughout 2022, the currency impact on the Company’s full-year reported revenues would be unfavorable, offset by a favorable impact on operating expenses. These results will likely have an immaterial impact on reported net income.

Fluctuations in currency exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar amount of the Company’s stockholders’ equity. The assets and liabilities of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at period end. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Although currency fluctuations impact the Company’s reported results and shareholders’ equity, such fluctuations generally do not affect cash flow or result in actual economic gains or losses. The Company generally has few cross-border transfers of funds, except for transfers to the U.S. for payment of intercompany loans, working capital loans made between the U.S. and the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, and dividends from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

	December 31,
	2021		2020
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	619,001	$	574,426
Accounts receivable, net	984,691		714,163
Employee deferred compensation trust assets	494,991		406,634
Other current assets	169,864		147,515
Total current assets	2,268,547		1,842,738
Property and equipment, net	93,403		109,817
Right-of-use assets	228,793		262,688
Other intangible assets, net	3,334		5,594
Goodwill	222,855		223,055
Noncurrent deferred income taxes	135,427		113,532
Total assets	$	2,952,359	$	2,557,424
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	183,796	$	130,770
Accrued payroll and benefit costs	540,183		397,877
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	535,276		435,121
Income taxes payable	15,631		4,015
Notes payable	—		239
Current operating lease liabilities	83,787		78,604
Total current liabilities	1,358,673		1,046,626
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities	181,291		223,869
Other liabilities	31,344		81,640
Total liabilities	1,571,308		1,352,135
Commitments and Contingencies (Note L)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued	—		—
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 260,000,000 shares; issued and    outstanding 110,685,989 and 113,127,501 shares	111		113
Additional paid-in capital	1,235,903		1,179,972
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(22,622)		(4,732)
Retained earnings	167,659		29,936
Total stockholders’ equity	1,381,051		1,205,289
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,952,359	$	2,557,424

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

26

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Service revenues	$	6,461,444	$	5,109,000	$	6,074,432
Costs of services	3,765,416		3,096,389		3,549,303
Gross margin	2,696,028		2,012,611		2,525,129
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,951,282		1,666,041		1,958,295
Income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (which is completely offset by related costs and expenses - Notes A & I)	(61,078)		(75,188)		(54,917)
Amortization of intangible assets	2,241		1,219		1,361
Interest income, net	(197)		(1,343)		(5,125)
Income before income taxes	803,780		421,882		625,515
Provision for income taxes	205,154		115,606		171,082
Net income	$	598,626	$	306,276	$	454,433
Net income per share:
Basic	$	5.42	$	2.72	$	3.93
Diluted	$	5.36	$	2.70	$	3.90
Shares:
Basic	110,482		112,729		115,656
Diluted	111,718		113,318		116,411
Dividends declared per share	$	1.52	$	1.36	$	1.24

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

27

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(in thousands)

 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):
Net income	$	598,626	$	306,276	$	454,433
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(18,702)		18,973		(1,553)
Foreign defined benefit plans, net of tax	812		(3,719)		(2,324)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(17,890)		15,254		(3,877)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	580,736	$	321,530	$	450,556

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Common Stock			Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Earnings		Total
	Shares	Par Value
Balance at December 31, 2018	119,078	$	119	$	1,079,188	$	(16,109)	$	—	$	1,063,198
Net income	—	—		—		—		454,433		454,433
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—	—		—		(3,877)		—		(3,877)
Dividends declared ($1.24 per share)	—	—		—		—		(145,726)		(145,726)
Net issuances of restricted stock	647	1		(1)		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		48,300		—		—		48,300
Repurchases of common stock	(4,605)	(5)		—		—		(272,640)		(272,645)
Balance at December 31, 2019	115,120	$	115	$	1,127,487	$	(19,986)	$	36,067	$	1,143,683
Net income	—	—		—		—		306,276		306,276
Adoption of accounting pronouncement	—	—		—		—		(558)		(558)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—	—		—		15,254		—		15,254
Dividends declared ($1.36 per share)	—	—		—		—		(156,045)		(156,045)
Net issuances of restricted stock	879	1		(1)		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		52,486		—		—		52,486
Repurchases of common stock	(2,871)	(3)		—		—		(155,804)		(155,807)
Balance at December 31, 2020	113,128	$	113	$	1,179,972	$	(4,732)	$	29,936	$	1,205,289
Net income	—	—		—		—		598,626		598,626
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—	—		—		(17,890)		—		(17,890)
Dividends declared ($1.52 per share)	—	—		—		—		(170,679)		(170,679)
Net issuances of restricted stock	701	1		(1)		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—	—		55,932		—		—		55,932
Repurchases of common stock	(3,143)	(3)		—		—		(290,224)		(290,227)
Balance at December 31, 2021	110,686	$	111	$	1,235,903	$	(22,622)	$	167,659	$	1,381,051

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

29

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	598,626	$	306,276	$	454,433
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Allowance for credit losses	9,464		4,200		9,868
Depreciation	52,210		62,281		64,264
Amortization of cloud computing implementation costs	28,023		18,399		3,624
Amortization of intangible assets	2,241		1,219		1,361
Realized and unrealized gains from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts	(37,359)		(66,866)		(44,492)
Stock-based compensation	55,932		52,486		48,300
Deferred income taxes	(21,133)		(13,146)		(9,473)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(292,628)		127,740		(48,461)
Capitalized cloud computing implementation costs	(31,240)		(33,178)		(30,338)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	52,610		1,098		(9,204)
Accrued payroll and benefit cost	99,005		119,231		17,705
Employee deferred compensation plan obligations	100,058		13,923		87,670
Income taxes payable	3,587		182		(18,798)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(16,260)		2,683		(6,830)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities	603,136		596,528		519,629
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(36,611)		(33,377)		(59,464)
Investments in employee deferred compensation trusts	(85,432)		(64,351)		(71,432)
Proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions	34,434		123,025		28,758
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—		(15,836)		—
Net cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities	(87,609)		9,461		(102,138)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of notes payable	(239)		(218)		(200)
Repurchases of common stock	(287,738)		(159,172)		(277,535)
Dividends paid	(170,612)		(155,935)		(145,631)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(458,589)		(315,325)		(423,366)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations	(12,363)		13,284		(226)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	44,575		303,948		(6,101)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	574,426		270,478		276,579
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	619,001	$	574,426	$	270,478
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest	$	548	$	577	$	232
Income taxes, net of refunds	$	219,726	$	128,321	$	191,522
Non-cash items:
Stock repurchases awaiting settlement	$	5,593	$	3,104	$	6,469
Fund exchanges within employee deferred compensation trusts	$	116,815	$	208,055	$	41,648

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

30

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations.    Robert Half International Inc. (the “Company”) provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, Robert Half® Legal, The Creative Group®, and Protiviti®. The Company, through its Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is a specialized provider of temporary, full-time, and senior-level project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support professionals. Robert Half Technology provides project and full-time technology professionals. Robert Half Legal provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel. The Creative Group provides interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that helps companies solve problems in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Revenues are predominantly derived from specialized staffing services. The Company operates in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company is a Delaware corporation.

Basis of Presentation.    The Consolidated Financial Statements (“Financial Statements”) of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the current presentation.

Principles of Consolidation.    The Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include allowances for credit losses, variable consideration, workers’ compensation losses, accrued medical expenses, income and other taxes, and assumptions used in the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment and in the valuation of stock grants subject to market conditions. We continue to monitor the global economic uncertainty as a result of cornavirus (“COVID-19”) and its variants to assess the impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.

Service Revenues.    The Company derives its revenues from three segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting and internal audit services. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. See Note C for further discussion of the revenue recognition accounting policy.

Costs of Services.    Direct costs of temporary and consultant staffing consist of professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs for the Company’s engagement professionals, as well as reimbursable expenses. Direct costs of permanent placement staffing services consist of reimbursable expenses. Risk consulting and internal audit direct costs of services include professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs, as well as reimbursable expenses.

Advertising Costs.    The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were $49.3 million, $37.2 million and $54.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Income from Investments Held in Employee Deferred Compensation Trusts. Under the Company’s employee deferred compensation plans, employees direct the investment of their account balances, and the Company invests amounts held in the associated investment trusts consistent with these directions. As realized and unrealized investment gains and losses occur, the Company’s deferred compensation obligation to employees changes accordingly. Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations remain in selling, general and administrative expenses or, in the case of risk consulting and internal audit services, costs of services. The value of the related investment trust assets also changes by an equal and offsetting amount, leaving no net cost to the Company. The Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts consists primarily of unrealized and realized gains and losses and dividend income from trust investments.

31

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

The following table presents the Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Dividend income	$	23,719	$	8,322	$	10,425
Realized and unrealized gains	37,359		66,866		44,492
Income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts	$	61,078	$	75,188	$	54,917

Comprehensive Income (Loss).    Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and certain other items that are recorded directly to stockholders’ equity. The Company’s only sources of other comprehensive income (loss) are foreign currency translation and foreign defined benefit plan adjustments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.     The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents. This includes money market funds that meet the requirements to be treated as cash equivalents. However, money market funds held in investment trusts that are being used as investments to satisfy the Company’s obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans are treated as investments and are included in employee deferred compensation trust assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the observability of the inputs available in the market to measure fair value, summarized as follows:

Level 1: observable inputs for identical assets or liabilities, such as quoted prices in active markets

Level 2: inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly

Level 3: unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires management’s best

estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value because of their short-term nature. The Company holds mutual funds and money market funds to satisfy its obligations under its employee deferred compensation plans, which are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1).

32

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

The following table sets forth the composition of the underlying assets which comprise the Company’s deferred

compensation trust assets (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Balance at December 31, 2021		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds	$	66,700	$	66,700	—	—
Mutual funds - bond	30,750		30,750		—	—
Mutual funds - stock	303,277		303,277		—	—
Mutual funds - blend	94,264		94,264		—	—
	$	494,991	$	494,991	—	—
	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Balance at December 31, 2020		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)	Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Money market funds	$	69,681	$	69,681	—	—
Mutual funds - bond	27,282		27,282		—	—
Mutual funds - stock	234,667		234,667		—	—
Mutual funds - blend	75,004		75,004		—	—
	$	406,634	$	406,634	—	—

Certain items such as goodwill and other intangible assets are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The Company determines the fair value of these items using level 3 inputs. There are inherent limitations when estimating the fair value of financial instruments, and the fair values reported are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in current market transactions.

Allowance for Credit Losses.    The Company is exposed to credit losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company establishes an allowance for these potential credit losses based on its review of customers’ credit profiles, historical loss statistics, prepayments, recoveries, age of customer receivable balances, current business conditions and macro-economic trends. The Company considers risk characteristics of trade receivables based on asset type and geographical locations to evaluate trade receivables on a collective basis. The Company applies credit loss estimates to these pooled receivables to determine expected credit losses.

33

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)