EXHIBIT 99.1

                                 EXHIBIT 99.1

    WRITTEN COMPENSATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN REGISTRANT AND XXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
                         DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 1996



                            COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

     Agreement dated as of the lst day of November, 1996 by and between Xxxx 
X. Xxxxxxxxx ("Director") and Western Staff Services, Inc., a Delaware 
corporation ("Company")

                             W I T N E S S E T H
                             - - - - - - - - - -

     WHEREAS, The Director is a non-employee member of the Company's Board of 
Directors (the "Board").

     WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Director to continue to serve on the 
Board and as compensation for such Services, Company has previously granted 
Director an option to purchase 1,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock 
(the "Option") upon the terms and conditions set forth in the option 
agreement dated November 1, 1996 (the "Option Agreement") and attached hereto 
as Exhibit A.

     WHEREAS, Company and Director now wish to memorialize, in writing, 
certain agreements and understandings existing between them at the time the 
Option Agreement was executed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties 
hereto agree as follows:

     1. Company and Director acknowledge and agree that the Option was 
granted as compensation for services and not for any capital-raising purposes 
or in connection with any capital-raising activities.

     2.   The Option is not assignable or transferable except in connection 
with the Director's death.

     3. This agreement is intended solely to memorialize the agreement and 
understanding existing between Director and Company at the time the Option 
was granted and the Option Agreement was executed. Nothing herein or in the 
Option Agreement is intended to impair the right of the Company and its 
shareholders to remove the Director from the Board at any time in accordance 
with applicable law.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as 
of the date first above written.

DIRECTOR:                              WESTERN STAFF SERVICES, INC.


/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx                  By:  /s/ W. Xxxxxx  Xxxxxx
----------------------------------        ----------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx                         W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chairman of the
                                          Board and Chief Executive Officer



                             EXHIBIT A

                 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT