902791--3/16/2007--BARRETT_BUSINESS_SERVICES

related topics

{loss, insurance, financial}

{financial, litigation, operation}

{personnel, key, retain}

{regulation, change, law}

{capital, credit, financial}

{loan, real, estate}

{system, service, information}

{customer, product, revenue}

{cost, contract, operation}

{competitive, industry, competition}

Our workers' compensation loss reserves may be inadequate to cover our ultimate liability for workers' compensation costs. Our self-insured retention for workers' compensation claims increased from $1.0 million per occurrence to $5.0 million per occurrence, on a consolidated basis, beginning January 1, 2007. Adverse developments in the market for excess workers' compensation insurance could lead to increases in our costs. Changes in the market for workers' compensation insurance in the state of California could adversely affect our business. Because we assume the obligation to make wage, tax and regulatory payments in respect of some employees, we are exposed to client credit risks. Our staffing business is vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Companies tend to use fewer temporary employees as economic activity slows, while recruiting employees to fill our customers' needs becomes increasingly difficult during robust economic periods. If we are determined not to be an "employer" under certain laws and regulations, our clients may stop using our services, and we may be subject to additional liabilities. We may be exposed to employment-related claims and costs and periodic litigation that could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We operate in a complex regulatory environment, and failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could adversely affect our business. Changes in government regulations may result in restrictions or prohibitions applicable to the provision of employment services or the imposition of additional licensing, regulatory or tax requirements. We may find it difficult to expand our business into additional states due to varying state regulatory requirements. Acquisitions subject us to various risks, including risks relating to selection and pricing of acquisition targets, integration of acquired companies into our business and assumption of unanticipated liabilities. Our business is subject to risks associated with geographic market concentration. We face competition from a number of other companies. We are dependent upon certain key personnel and recruitment and retention of key employees may be difficult and expensive. We do not have an expansive in-house sales staff and therefore rely extensively on brokers to make referrals. We depend on attracting and retaining qualified employees; during periods of economic growth, our costs to do so increase and it becomes more difficult to attract and retain people. Our service agreements may be terminated on short notice, leaving us vulnerable to loss of a significant amount of customers in a short period of time, if business or regulatory conditions change or events occur that negatively affect our reputation. Our industry has at times received negative publicity and had some stigma associated with it that, if it were to predominate, could cause our business to decline. Changes in state unemployment tax laws and regulations could adversely affect our business. We are dependent upon technology services and if we experience damage, service interruptions or failures in our computer and telecommunications systems, or if our security measures are breached, our client relationships and our ability to attract new clients may be adversely affected.

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902791--3/16/2007--BARRETT_BUSINESS_SERVICES_INC