Segment Reporting Reconciling Item Types for OUP (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	$ 158.0		$ 108.9		$ 394.4		$ 220.6
Interest and other expenses	(11.0)		(8.4)		(33.9)		(33.2)
Earnings / (loss) before income taxes	147.0		100.5		360.5		187.4
Total Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	175.3	[1]	126.6	[1]	452.8	[1]	271.5	[1]
Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	42.7		34.1		103.7		55.2
Americas [Member] | United States [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	32.1		25.9		68.0		28.7
Americas [Member] | Other Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	10.6		8.2		35.7		26.5
Corporate Expenses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(29.9)		(23.6)		(92.4)		(70.4)
Southern Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	50.0		39.6		127.0		71.2
Southern Europe [Member] | France [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	27.9		25.0		64.7		35.1
Southern Europe [Member] | Italy [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	19.1		11.4		54.4		31.7
Southern Europe [Member] | Other Southern Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	3.0		3.2		7.9		4.4
Intangible Asset Amortization Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(9.9)		(11.6)		(28.9)		(28.1)
Northern Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	62.8		39.8		160.8		87.2
Reclassification of French Business Tax [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	22.5	[2]	17.5	[2]	62.9	[2]	47.6	[2]
APME [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	21.7		13.1		57.1		37.6
Right Management [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for OUP to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	$ (1.9)		$ 0		$ 4.2		$ 20.3

[1] We evaluate segment performance based on Operating Unit Profit ("OUP"), which is equal to segment revenues less cost of services and branch and national headquarters operating costs. This profit measure does not include goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges or amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions, interest and other income and expense amounts or income taxes.

[2] The French Business Tax was reported in Provision for Income Taxes rather than in Cost of Services, in accordance with the current accounting guidance on income taxes. However, we view this tax as operational in nature. Accordingly, the financial information reviewed internally and presented above continues to include the French Business Tax within the OUP of our France reportable segment. Therefore, we have shown the amount of the French Business Tax separately to be able to reconcile to our Earnings before Income Taxes.