BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC - Quarter Report: 2021 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2021

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

For the Transition Period From to

Commission File Number 0-21886

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland		52-0812977
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

8100 NE Parkway Drive, Suite 200
Vancouver, Washington		98662
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(360) 828-0700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 $0.01 Per Share	BBSI	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) 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, 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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of April 21, 2021, 7,565,315 shares of the registrant’s common stock ($0.01 par value) were outstanding.

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Part I - Financial Information (Unaudited)
		Page
Item 1.	Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020	3

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	4

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	5

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	6

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	7

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	26

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	26

Part II - Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	27

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	27

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	28

Item 6.	Exhibits	29

Signature		30

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Par Value)

	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	28,545	$	68,688
Investments		114,142		101,244
Trade accounts receivable, net		207,430		118,506
Income taxes receivable		8,209		6,485
Prepaid expenses and other		14,613		15,961
Restricted cash and investments		99,183		96,991
Total current assets		472,122		407,875
Property, equipment and software, net		35,400		34,916
Operating lease right-of-use assets		23,475		23,025
Restricted cash and investments		261,020		258,153
Goodwill		47,820		47,820
Other assets		2,818		3,161
	$	842,655	$	774,950
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	221	$	221
Accounts payable		5,611		4,746
Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits		233,132		149,989
Current operating lease liabilities		8,006		7,539
Other accrued liabilities		8,292		7,275
Workers' compensation claims liabilities		103,290		102,040
Safety incentives liability		11,254		18,827
Total current liabilities		369,806		290,637
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities		259,373		255,706
Long-term debt		3,455		3,510
Deferred income taxes		2,511		4,518
Long-term operating lease liabilities		16,387		16,419
Customer deposits and other long-term liabilities		6,638		5,925
Total liabilities		658,170		576,715
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 4 and 6)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,500 shares authorized, 7,554 and 7,566 shares issued and outstanding		76		76
Additional paid-in capital		26,483		24,885
Accumulated other comprehensive income		2,314		7,564
Retained earnings		155,612		165,710
Total stockholders' equity		184,485		198,235
	$	842,655	$	774,950

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021			2020
Revenues:
Professional employer service fees	$	193,819		$	193,592
Staffing services		24,626			25,512
Total revenues		218,445			219,104
Cost of revenues:
Direct payroll costs		18,450			19,077
Payroll taxes and benefits		122,783			119,462
Workers' compensation		46,347			54,514
Total cost of revenues		187,580			193,053
Gross margin		30,865			26,051
Selling, general and administrative expenses		37,107			32,115
Depreciation and amortization		1,297			1,000
Loss from operations		(7,539	)		(7,064	)
Other income (expense):
Investment income, net		1,769			2,967
Interest expense		(308	)		(235	)
Other, net		9			1
Other income, net		1,470			2,733
Loss before income taxes		(6,069	)		(4,331	)
Benefit from income taxes		(1,515	)		(924	)
Net loss	$	(4,554	)	$	(3,407	)
Basic loss per common share	$	(0.60	)	$	(0.45	)
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding		7,576			7,521
Diluted loss per common share	$	(0.60	)	$	(0.45	)
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		7,576			7,521

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021			2020
Net loss	$	(4,554	)	$	(3,407	)
Unrealized losses on investments, net of tax of ($2,007) and ($1,046) in 2021 and 2020, respectively		(5,250	)		(2,735	)
Comprehensive loss	$	(9,804	)	$	(6,142	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

									Accumulated
									Other
						Additional			Comprehensive
	Common Stock					Paid-in			Income			Retained
	Shares			Amount		Capital			(Loss)			Earnings			Total
Balance, December 31, 2020		7,566		$	76	$	24,885		$	7,564		$	165,710		$	198,235
Common stock issued on exercise of options, purchase of ESPP shares and vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards		38			—		815			—			—			815
Common stock repurchased on vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards		(1	)		—		(107	)		—			—			(107	)
Share-based compensation expense		—			—		1,060			—			—			1,060
Company repurchase of common stock		(49	)		—		(170	)		—			(3,266	)		(3,436	)
Cash dividends on common stock ($0.30 per share)		—			—		—			—			(2,278	)		(2,278	)
Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax		—			—		—			(5,250	)		—			(5,250	)
Net loss		—			—		—			—			(4,554	)		(4,554	)
Balance, March 31, 2021		7,554		$	76	$	26,483		$	2,314		$	155,612		$	184,485

										Accumulated
										Other
							Additional			Comprehensive
	Common Stock						Paid-in			Income			Retained
	Shares			Amount			Capital			(Loss)			Earnings			Total
Balance, December 31, 2019		7,514		$	75		$	20,227		$	2,819		$	148,678		$	171,799
Common stock issued on exercise of options, purchase of ESPP shares and vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards		56			1			903			—			—			904
Common stock repurchased on vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards		(6	)		—			(378	)		—			—			(378	)
Share-based compensation expense		—			—			342			—			—			342
Company repurchase of common stock		(59	)		(1	)		(169	)					(2,817	)		(2,987	)
Cash dividends on common stock ($0.30 per share)		—			—			—			—			(2,262	)		(2,262	)
Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax		—			—			—			(2,735	)		—			(2,735	)
Net loss		—			—			—			—			(3,407	)		(3,407	)
Balance, March 31, 2020		7,505		$	75		$	20,925		$	84		$	140,192		$	161,276

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021			2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(4,554	)	$	(3,407	)
Reconciliations of net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,297			1,000
Non-cash lease expense		1,872			1,724
Investment amortization and losses recognized		203			81
Deferred Income taxes		—			508
Share-based compensation		1,060			342
Changes in certain operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable		(88,924	)		(2,229	)
Income taxes		(1,724	)		(1,102	)
Prepaid expenses and other		1,348			(1,592	)
Accounts payable		865			(1,660	)
Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits		83,926			6,406
Other accrued liabilities		964			(2,095	)
Workers' compensation claims liabilities		5,273			6,452
Safety incentives liability		(7,573	)		(1,620	)
Operating lease liabilities		(1,887	)		(1,672	)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(30	)		(95	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(7,884	)		1,041
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and software		(1,781	)		(3,439	)
Purchase of investments		(23,444	)		(23,722	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments		9,381			21,758
Purchase of restricted investments		(132,788	)		(1,828	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of restricted investments		24,286			14,449
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(124,346	)		7,218
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt		(55	)		(55	)
Repurchase of common stock		(3,436	)		(2,987	)
Common stock repurchased on vesting of stock awards		(107	)		(378	)
Dividends paid		(2,278	)		(2,262	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		815			904
Net cash used in financing activities		(5,061	)		(4,778	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(137,291	)		3,481
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		233,837			273,341
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	96,546		$	276,822

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation of Interim Period Statements

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI”, the “Company”, “our” or “we”), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures typically included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The accompanying condensed financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from such estimates and assumptions. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K at pages 34 – 61. The results of operations for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

Revenue recognition

Professional employer (“PEO”) services are normally used by organizations to satisfy ongoing needs related to the management of human capital and are governed by the terms of a client services agreement which covers all employees at a particular work site. Staffing revenues relate primarily to short-term staffing, contract staffing and on-site management services. The Company’s performance obligations for PEO and staffing services are satisfied, and the related revenue is recognized, as services are rendered by our workforce.

Our PEO client service agreements have a minimum term of one year, are renewable on an annual basis, and typically require 30 days’ written notice to cancel or terminate the contract by either party. In addition, our client service agreements provide for immediate termination upon any default of the client regardless of when notice is given. PEO customers are invoiced following the end of each payroll processing cycle, with payment generally due on the invoice date. Staffing customers are invoiced weekly based on agreed rates per employee and actual hours worked, typically with payment terms of 30 days. The amount of earned but unbilled revenue is classified as a receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for these payments to our clients’ employees. Direct payroll costs include salaries, wages, health insurance, and employee out-of-pocket expenses incurred incidental to employment. We also present revenue net of safety incentives because these incentives represent consideration payable to customers.

Cost of revenues

Our cost of revenues for PEO services includes employer payroll-related taxes and workers’ compensation costs. Our cost of revenues for staffing services includes direct payroll costs, employer payroll-related taxes, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation costs. Direct payroll costs represent the gross payroll earned by staffing services employees based on salary or hourly wages. Payroll taxes and employee benefits consist of the employer’s portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes, federal and state unemployment taxes, and staffing services employee reimbursements for materials, supplies and other expenses, which are paid by our customer. Workers’ compensation costs consist primarily of claims reserves, claims administration fees, legal fees, medical cost containment (“MCC”) expense, state administrative agency fees, third-party broker commissions, risk manager payroll, premiums for excess insurance, and the fronted insurance program, as well as costs associated with operating our two wholly owned insurance companies, Associated Insurance Company for Excess (“AICE”) and Ecole Insurance Company (“Ecole”).

Cash and cash equivalents

We consider non-restricted short-term investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible into cash, and have maturities at acquisition of less than three months, to be cash equivalents for purposes of the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company maintains cash balances in bank accounts that normally exceed FDIC insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to its cash concentration.

Investments

The Company classifies investments as available-for-sale. The Company’s investments are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Investments are recorded as current on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as the invested funds are available for current operations. Management considers available evidence in evaluating potential impairment of investments, including the extent to which fair value is less than cost and adverse conditions related to the security. In the event of a credit loss, an allowance would be recognized to the extent that the fair value of the security is less than the present value of the expected future cash flows. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are included in investment income in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted cash and investments

The Company holds restricted cash and investments primarily for the future payment of workers’ compensation claims. These investments are categorized as available-for-sale. They are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Restricted cash and investments are classified as current and noncurrent on the condensed consolidated balance sheets based on the nature of the restriction. Management considers available evidence in evaluating potential impairment of restricted investments, including the extent to which fair value is less than cost and adverse conditions related to the security. In the event of a credit loss, an allowance would be recognized to the extent that the fair value of the security is less than the present value of the expected future cash flows. Realized gains and losses on sales of restricted investments are included in investment income in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted cash and investments also includes investments held as part of the Company’s deferred compensation plan. These investments are classified as trading securities and are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of income (loss) from operations.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

The Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,092,000 and $757,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. We make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable for services provided to our customers based on future expected credit losses. Management analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customers’ payment trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. If the financial condition of our customers deteriorates, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Workers’ compensation claims liabilities

Our workers’ compensation claims liabilities do not represent an exact calculation of liability but rather management’s best estimate, utilizing actuarial expertise and projection techniques, at a given reporting date. The estimated liability for open workers’ compensation claims is based on an evaluation of information provided by our third-party administrator for workers’ compensation claims, coupled with an actuarial estimate of future loss development with respect to reported claims and incurred but not reported claims (together, “IBNR”). Workers’ compensation claims liabilities include case reserve estimates for reported losses, plus additional amounts for estimated IBNR claims, MCC and legal costs, unallocated loss adjustment expenses and estimated future recoveries. The estimate of incurred costs expected to be paid within one year is included in current liabilities, while the estimate of incurred costs expected to be paid beyond one year is included in long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. These estimates are reviewed at least quarterly and adjustments to estimated liabilities are reflected in current operating results as they become known.

The process of arriving at an estimate of unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense involves a high degree of judgment and is affected by both internal and external events, including changes in claims handling practices, changes in reserve estimation procedures, inflation, trends in the litigation and settlement of pending claims, and legislative changes.

Our estimates are based on informed judgment, derived from individual experience and expertise applied to multiple sets of data and analyses. We consider significant facts and circumstances known both at the time that loss reserves are initially established and as new facts and circumstances become known. Due to the inherent uncertainty underlying loss reserve estimates, the expenses incurred through final resolution of our liability for our workers’ compensation claims will likely vary from the related loss reserves at the reporting date. Therefore, as specific claims are paid out in the future, actual paid losses may be materially different from our current loss reserves.

A basic premise in most actuarial analyses is that historical data and past patterns demonstrated in the incurred and paid historical data form a reasonable basis upon which to project future outcomes, absent a material change. Significant structural changes to the available data can materially impact the reserve estimation process. To the extent a material change affecting the ultimate claim liability becomes known, such change is quantified to the extent possible through an analysis of internal Company data and, if available and when appropriate, external data. Nonetheless, actuaries exercise a considerable degree of judgment in the evaluation of these factors and the need for such actuarial judgment is more pronounced when faced with material uncertainties.

Safety incentives

We accrue for and present expected safety incentives as a reduction of revenue. Safety incentives represent cash incentives paid to certain PEO client companies for maintaining safe-work practices and minimizing workplace injuries. The incentive is based on a percentage of annual payroll and is paid annually to customers who meet predetermined workers’ compensation claims cost objectives. Safety incentive payments are made only after closure of all workers’ compensation claims incurred during the customer’s contract period. The safety incentive liability is estimated and accrued each month based upon contract year-to-date payroll and the then current amount of the customer’s estimated workers’ compensation claims reserves as established by us and our third-party administrator. The Company provided $11.3 million and $18.8 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, as an estimate of the liability for unpaid safety incentives.

Customer deposits

We require deposits from certain PEO customers to cover a portion of our accounts receivable due from such customers in the event of default of payment.

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity during a period except those that resulted from investments by or distributions to the Company’s stockholders.

Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are included in comprehensive income (loss), but excluded from net income (loss) as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity. Our other comprehensive income (loss) comprises unrealized holding gains and losses on our available-for-sale investments.

Statements of cash flows

Interest paid during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 did not materially differ from interest expense. Income taxes paid during the three months ended March 31, 2021 totaled $0.2 million. No income taxes were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Bank deposits and other cash equivalents that are restricted for use are classified as restricted cash. The table below reconciles the cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balances from our condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts reported on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020		2020		2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	28,545	$	68,688	$	14,272	$	44,570
Restricted cash, included in restricted cash and investments		68,001		165,149		262,550		228,771
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows	$	96,546	$	233,837	$	276,822	$	273,341

Basic and diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for each year using the treasury method. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential effects of the exercise of outstanding stock options, the issuance of stock associated with outstanding restricted stock units, performance share units and the Company’s employee stock purchase plan. Basic and diluted shares outstanding are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021		2020
Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding		7,576		7,521
Effect of dilutive securities		—		—
Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding		7,576		7,521

As a result of the net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, 95,899 and 187,745 potential common shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

Accounting estimates

The preparation of our condensed consolidated 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Estimates are used for fair value measurement of investments, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred income taxes, carrying values for goodwill and property, equipment and software, accrued workers’ compensation liabilities and safety incentive liabilities. Actual results may or may not differ from such estimates.

Note 2 - Fair Value Measurement

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

	March 31, 2021							December 31, 2020
			Gross							Gross
			Unrealized							Unrealized
			Gains			Recorded				Gains			Recorded
	Cost		(Losses)			Basis		Cost		(Losses)			Basis
Current:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	225	$	—		$	225	$	42,007	$	—		$	42,007
Total cash equivalents		225		—			225		42,007		—			42,007
Investments:
Corporate bonds		59,034		70			59,104		50,918		884			51,802
Asset backed securities		36,945		55			37,000		36,948		(146	)		36,802
Mortgage backed securities		10,078		(171	)		9,907		4,367		24			4,391
U.S. government agency securities		7,393		638			8,031		7,396		752			8,148
U.S. treasuries		100		—			100		100		1			101
Total current investments		113,550		592			114,142		99,729		1,515			101,244
Restricted cash and investments ⁽¹⁾:
Corporate bonds		149,582		155			149,737		88,902		4,091			92,993
Mortgage backed securities		68,674		1,619			70,293		48,795		2,356			51,151
Money market funds		39,290		4			39,294		40,063		(4	)		40,059
U.S. government agency securities		34,937		1,717			36,654		29,737		2,466			32,203
U.S. treasuries		30,129		(897	)		29,232		4,371		19			4,390
Mutual funds		5,821		—			5,821		5,036		—			5,036
Asset backed securities		237		3			240		256		4			260
Supranational bonds		—		—			—		4,775		3			4,778
Total restricted cash and investments		328,670		2,601			331,271		221,935		8,935			230,870
Total investments	$	442,445	$	3,193		$	445,638	$	363,671	$	10,450		$	374,121

(1) Included in restricted cash and investments within the condensed consolidated balance sheets is restricted cash of $28.9 million and $124.3 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which is excluded from the table above. Restricted cash and investments are classified as current and noncurrent on the balance sheet based on the nature of the restriction.

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 measured at fair value on a recurring basis by fair value hierarchy level (in thousands):

	March 31, 2021										December 31, 2020
	Total										Total
	Recorded										Recorded
	Basis		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Other ⁽¹⁾		Basis		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Other ⁽¹⁾
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	225	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	225	$	42,007	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	42,007
Investments:
Corporate bonds		59,104		—		59,104		—		—		51,802		—		51,802		—		—
Asset backed securities		37,000		—		37,000		—		—		36,802		—		36,802		—		—
Mortgage backed securities		9,907		—		9,907		—		—		4,391		—		4,391		—		—
U.S. government agency securities		8,031		—		8,031		—		—		8,148		—		8,148		—		—
U.S. treasuries		100		—		100		—		—		101		—		101		—		—
Restricted cash and investments:
Corporate bonds		149,737		—		149,737		—		—		92,993		—		92,993		—		—
Mortgage backed securities		70,293		—		70,293		—		—		51,151		—		51,151		—		—
Money market funds		39,294		—		—		—		39,294		40,059		—		—		—		40,059
U.S. government agency securities		36,654		—		36,654		—		—		32,203		—		32,203		—		—
U.S. treasuries		29,232		—		29,232		—		—		4,390		—		4,390		—		—
Mutual funds		5,821		5,821		—		—		—		5,036		5,036		—		—		—
Asset backed securities		240		—		240		—		—		260		—		260		—		—
Supranational bonds		—		—		—		—		—		4,778		—		4,778		—		—
Total investments	$	445,638	$	5,821	$	400,298	$	—	$	39,519	$	374,121	$	5,036	$	287,019	$	—	$	82,066

(1) Investments in money market funds measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient are not subject to hierarchy level classification disclosure. The Company invests in money market funds that seek to maintain a stable net asset value. These investments include commingled funds that comprise high-quality short-term securities representing liquid debt and monetary instruments where the redemption value is likely to be the fair value. Redemption is permitted daily without written notice.

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations with or without prepayment penalties.

	March 31, 2021
(In thousands)	Less than 1 Year		Between 1 to 5 Years		Between 5 to 10 Years		After 10 Years		Total
Corporate bonds	$	44,701	$	68,171	$	95,969	$	—	$	208,841
U.S. government agency securities		1,007		18,497		25,181		—		44,685
Money market funds		39,519		—		—		—		39,519
Asset backed securities		—		246		2,201		34,793		37,240
U.S. treasuries		959		682		27,691		—		29,332
Total	$	86,186	$	87,596	$	151,042	$	34,793	$	359,617

	December 31, 2020
(In thousands)	Less than 1 Year		Between 1 to 5 Years		Between 5 to 10 Years		After 10 Years		Total
Corporate bonds	$	49,308	$	61,315	$	34,172	$	—	$	144,795
Money market funds		82,066		—		—		—		82,066
U.S. government agency securities		1,013		18,668		20,670		—		40,351
Asset backed securities		2		267		—		36,793		37,062
Supranational bonds		4,778		—		—		—		4,778
U.S. treasuries		1,367		1,504		1,620		—		4,491
Total	$	138,534	$	81,754	$	56,462	$	36,793	$	313,543

The average contractual maturity of mortgage backed securities, which are excluded from the table above, was 21 years and 17 years as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Note 3 – Workers’ Compensation Claims

The following table summarizes the aggregate workers’ compensation reserve activity (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021			2020
Beginning balance
Workers' compensation claims liabilities	$	357,746		$	438,986
Add: claims expense accrual
Current period		33,270			38,492
Prior periods		(1,180	)		(813	)
		32,090			37,679
Less: claim payments related to
Current period		1,050			1,550
Prior periods		25,767			29,677
		26,817			31,227

Change in claims incurred in excess of retention limits		(356	)		(128	)

Ending balance
Workers' compensation claims liabilities	$	362,663		$	445,310
Incurred but not reported (IBNR)	$	212,297		$	282,497

Ratio of IBNR to workers' compensation claims liabilities		59	%		63	%

The Company is a self-insured employer with respect to workers' compensation coverage for all of its employees (including employees co-employed through our client service agreements) working in Colorado, Maryland and Oregon. In the state of Washington, state law allows only the Company's staffing services and internal management employees to be covered under the Company's self-insured workers' compensation program. The Company also operates a wholly owned, fully licensed insurance company, Ecole, which provides workers’ compensation coverage to the Company’s employees working in Arizona and Utah.

For all other clients, the Company obtains policies from Chubb Limited (“Chubb”) through an arrangement known as a fronted program, which provides a licensed, admitted insurance carrier to issue policies on behalf of the Company. Chubb assumes credit risk should the Company be unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations.

Through various insurance arrangements, the Company retains risk of loss up to the first $3.0 million per occurrence, except in Maryland and Colorado, where our retention per occurrence is $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

For claims incurred prior to July 1, 2020, the Company retains risk of loss up to the first $5.0 million per occurrence, except in Maryland and Colorado, where the retention per occurrence is $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

The fronted program with Chubb requires that collateral be advanced at the inception of the policy term. To partially satisfy these collateral requirements, the Company provided a letter of credit of $63.7 million from its principal bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Bank”).

In addition, the Company makes monthly collateral payments into trust accounts (the “Chubb trust accounts”) for the fronted program. The balance in the Chubb trust accounts was $295.4 million and $290.7 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Chubb trust accounts’ balances are included as a component of the current and long-term restricted cash and investments in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The states of California, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Delaware required us to maintain collateral totaling $65.2 million and $60.1 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, to cover potential workers’ compensation claims losses related to the Company’s current and former status as a self-insured employer. At March 31, 2021, the Company provided surety bonds and standby letters of credit totaling $65.2 million, including a California requirement of $39.2 million.

On June 29, 2020, the Company entered into a loss portfolio transfer agreement to remove all outstanding workers’ compensation claims obligations for claims incurred under its fronted insurance program between February 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017. This transaction reduced the Company’s outstanding workers’ compensation liabilities and Chubb trust account balances by $115.7 million.

The Company provided a total of $362.7 million and $357.7 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, as an estimated future liability for unsettled workers' compensation claims liabilities. Of this amount, $2.5 million and $2.9 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, represent case reserves incurred in excess of the Company’s retention. The accrual for costs incurred in excess of retention limits is offset by a receivable from insurance carriers of $2.5 million and $2.9 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, included in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Note 4 - Revolving Credit Facility and Long-Term Debt

On September 30, 2020, the Company entered into an amended credit agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Bank, which reverted to the provisions set forth in the agreement prior to May 15, 2020. The Agreement reduced the revolving credit line from $50.0 million back to $33.0 million; the sublimit for standby letters of credit remains at $8.0 million. At March 31, 2021, $6.2 million of the sublimit for standby letters of credit was used. The Agreement expires on July 1, 2022.

Advances under the revolving credit line bear interest, as selected by the Company, of (a) the daily floating rate of one-month LIBOR plus 1.75% or (b) the fixed rate of LIBOR plus 1.75%. The Agreement also provides for an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per year on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit line, as well as a fee of 1.75% of the face amount of each letter of credit reserved under the line of credit. The Company had no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit line at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The credit facility is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and other rights to receive payment.

The Agreement also provides for a $63.7 million standby letter of credit (the “Chubb Letter of Credit”). The Chubb Letter of Credit has an expiration date of July 1, 2021, subject to automatic renewal in specified circumstances. The Bank has been granted a security interest of first priority in certain blocked securities accounts (collectively, the “Collateral Accounts”). The Company has agreed to deposit in the Collateral Accounts 50% of the Company’s consolidated net income (after tax and less cash dividends) for each quarter plus, to the extent necessary, an additional amount by May 15 each year so that the deposits in the Collateral Accounts for the prior year total at least $16 million. Through the first quarter of 2021, the Company deposited $38.7 million into the Collateral Accounts.

In April 2021, the Company and Chubb reached an agreement to replace the Chubb Letter of Credit with other collateral assets and cancel the Chubb Letter of Credit in its entirety. As part of the transaction, the Bank released the $38.7 million of collateral held in support of the Chubb Letter of Credit, and the Company transferred the $38.7 million along with an additional $25.0 million to the Chubb trust accounts to satisfy the collateral requirements of the fronted program.

The initial fee paid under the Chubb Letter of Credit in June 2018 was equal to 2.5% of the face amount thereof. Upon annual renewal, the fees payable to the Bank quarterly in advance included (a) a fee at the annual rate of 2.5%, calculated based on the difference between the face amount of the Chubb Letter of Credit and 95% of the aggregate value of the Collateral Accounts as of the end of the previous quarter, (b) a fee at the annual rate of 1.0% calculated based on the balance of the face amount, and (c) other fees upon the payment or negotiation of each drawing under the Chubb Letter of Credit.

The Agreement requires the satisfaction of certain financial covenants as follows:

•

EBITDA [net income before taxes plus interest expense (net of capitalized interest expense), depreciation expense, and amortization expense] on a rolling four-quarter basis must be not less than $30 million at the end of each fiscal quarter; and

•

the ratio of restricted and unrestricted cash and investments to workers’ compensation and safety incentive liabilities must be at least 1.0:1.0, measured quarterly.

The Agreement imposes certain additional restrictions unless the Bank provides its prior written consent as follows:

•

incurring additional indebtedness is prohibited, other than purchase financing for the acquisition of assets, provided that the aggregate of all purchase financing does not exceed $1,000,000 at any time;

•

the Company may not terminate or cancel any of the AICE policies; and

•

if an event of default would occur, including on a pro forma basis, no dividends or distributions would be permitted to be paid and redemptions and repurchases of the Company’s stock would be permitted only up to $15 million in any rolling 12-month period.

The Agreement also contains customary events of default and specified cross-defaults under the Company’s workers’ compensation insurance arrangements. If an event of default under the Agreement occurs and is continuing, the Bank may declare any outstanding obligations under the Agreement to be immediately due and payable. At March 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

The Company maintains a mortgage loan with the Bank with a balance of approximately $3.7 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, secured by the Company’s corporate office building in Vancouver, Washington. This loan requires payment of monthly installments of $18,375, bearing interest at the one-month LIBOR plus 2.0%, with the unpaid principal balance due July 1, 2022. LIBOR likely will no longer be in general use as a reference rate by financial institutions by December 31, 2021.

Note 5 – Income Taxes

Under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” management evaluates the realizability of the deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis under a “more likely than not” standard. As part of this evaluation, management reviews all evidence, both positive and negative, to determine if a valuation allowance is needed. One component of this analysis is to determine whether the Company was in a cumulative loss position for the most recent 12 quarters. The Company was in a cumulative income position for the 12 quarters ended March 31, 2021.

The Company’s realization of a portion of net deferred tax assets is based in part on our estimates of the timing of reversals of certain temporary differences and on the generation of taxable income before such reversals.

The Company is subject to income taxes in U.S. federal and multiple state and local tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service is examining the Company’s federal tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. In July 2020, BBSI received notice that the IRS intends to disallow certain wage-based tax credits claimed for years 2011 to 2014, which would result in an estimated total additional tax due of approximately $2.3 million for the tax years 2012 through 2015, including the impact on carryover tax attributes. The Company disagrees with the IRS determination and believes that it has technical merits to defend its position. Based on management’s more-likely-than-not assessment that the position is sustainable, no reserve has been recorded in the financial statements.

In the major jurisdictions where it operates, the Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for the 2015 and 2016 tax year and tax years before 2011. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits.

A portion of the consolidated income the Company generates is not subject to state income tax. Depending on the percentage of this income as compared to total consolidated income, the Company's state effective tax rate could fluctuate from expectations.

Note 6 – Litigation

On November 21, 2012, David Kaanaana (“Kaanaana”), a former staffing employee, filed a class action wage and hour lawsuit against BBSI in the California Superior Court on behalf of himself and certain other employees who worked at County Sanitation District No. 2 of Los Angeles County (“the District”). The trial court ruled in plaintiffs’ favor regarding certain alleged meal breach violations but ruled in favor of BBSI with respect to the application of the California prevailing wage law to the District and other claims. These latter rulings were appealed by the plaintiffs to the California Court of Appeal. On November 30, 2018, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District returned its decision in Kaanaana v. Barrett Business Services, Inc., overruling the trial court's decision to dismiss the prevailing wage claim, ruling that the work in question at the District constitutes “public works” under the applicable law, and also ruling that plaintiffs’ are entitled to additional remedies with regard to the meal break violations under California law. On January 9, 2019, BBSI filed a petition of review to the California Supreme Court.

On February 27, 2019, the California Supreme Court granted the petition to review the Court of Appeal’s decision with respect to the prevailing wage issue. An amicus brief in support of BBSI’s appeal was filed by the District and certain associations of special districts, cities and counties in California. Oral argument took place on January 5, 2021. A decision from the California Supreme Court was issued March 29, 2021 affirming the Court of Appeal decision and concluding that the recycling sorting work performed by the staffing employees in question was a “public work” and therefore would be subject to prevailing wage requirements. No damages were awarded in the appeals process, and management expects the case to be remanded to Superior Court for any such determination with respect to both the prevailing wage issue and any additional remedies for the meal break violations.

Although certain costs from the Kaanaana case are estimable and accrued, potential liability from the public work determination is not currently considered estimable and is therefore not accrued. There is not precedent on how this type of ruling would impact historical work performed prior to a relevant prevailing wage rate being established by the California Department of Industrial Relations. There remain many possible outcomes, including that a prevailing wage rate could be set considerably higher than actual wages paid, which totaled approximately $2.2 million, or that actual wages paid may be determined to be equivalent to prevailing wages. There may also be other procedural outcomes.

BBSI believes it has the right to recover from the District any increased costs that may result from the court’s past or future decisions related to prevailing wage requirements, including any fees and penalties that may be incurred.

In addition to the matter above, BBSI is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. There are significant uncertainties surrounding litigation, including the possible liabilities in the Kaanaana case. For this case and others, management has recorded estimated liabilities of $3.1 million in other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Note 7 – Subsequent Events

We have evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through our filing date and noted no events that are subject to recognition or disclosure, except as disclosed in Note 4 - Revolving Credit Facility and Long-Term Debt.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

Company Background. Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI,” the “Company,” “our” or “we”), is a leading provider of business management solutions for small and mid-sized companies. The Company has developed a management platform that integrates a knowledge-based approach from the management consulting industry with tools from the human resource outsourcing industry. This platform, through the effective leveraging of human capital, helps our business owner clients run their businesses more effectively. We believe this platform, delivered through a decentralized organizational structure, differentiates BBSI from our competitors. BBSI was incorporated in Maryland in 1965.

Business Strategy. Our strategy is to align local operations teams with the mission of small and mid-sized business owners, driving value to their business. To do so, BBSI:

•

partners with business owners to leverage their investment in human capital through a high-touch, results-oriented approach;

•

brings predictability to each client organization through a three-tiered management platform; and

•

enables business owners to focus on their core business by reducing organizational complexity and maximizing productivity.

Business Organization. We operate a decentralized delivery model using operationally-focused business teams, typically located within 50 miles of our client companies. These teams are led by senior level business generalists and comprise senior level professionals with expertise in human resources, organizational development, risk mitigation and workplace safety and various types of administration, including payroll. These teams are responsible for growth of their operations, and for providing strategic leadership, guidance and expert consultation to our client companies. The decentralized structure fosters autonomous decision-making in which business teams deliver plans that closely align with the objectives of each business owner client. This structure also provides a means of incubating talent to support increased growth and capacity. We support clients with employees located in 40 states and the District of Columbia through a network of 56 branch locations in California, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Virginia. We also have several smaller recruiting locations in our general market areas, which are under the direction of a branch office.

Services Overview. BBSI’s core purpose is to advocate for business owners, particularly in the small and mid-sized business segment. Our evolution from an entrepreneurially run company to a professionally managed organization has helped to form our view that all businesses experience inflection points at key stages of growth. The insights gained through our own growth, along with the trends we see in working with more than 7,500 companies each day, define our approach to guiding business owners through the challenges associated with being an employer. BBSI’s business teams align with each business owner client through a structured three-tiered progression. In doing so, business teams focus on the objectives of each business owner and deliver planning, guidance and resources in support of those objectives.

Tier 1: Tactical Alignment

The first stage focuses on the mutual setting of expectations and is essential to a successful client relationship. It begins with a process of assessment and discovery in which the business owner’s business objectives, attitudes, and culture are aligned with BBSI’s processes, controls and culture. This stage includes an implementation process, which addresses the administrative components of employment.

Tier 2: Dynamic Relationship

The second stage of the relationship emphasizes organizational development as a means of achieving each client’s business objectives. There is a focus on process improvement, development of best practices, supervisor training and leadership development.

Tier 3: Strategic Counsel

With an emphasis on advocacy on behalf of the business owner, the third stage of the relationship is more strategic and forward-looking with a goal of cultivating an environment in which all efforts are directed by the mission and long-term objectives of the business owner.

In addition to serving as a resource and guide, BBSI has the ability to provide workers’ compensation coverage as a means of meeting statutory requirements and protecting our clients from employment-related injury claims. Through our third-party administrators, we provide claims management services for our clients. We work to manage and reduce job injury claims, identify fraudulent claims and structure optimal work programs, including modified duty.

Results of Operations

The spread of COVID-19 and resulting shelter-in-place and similar restrictions across the United States are having, and will continue to have, a negative impact on the operating results of the Company. As our clients respond to the effects of efforts to address the consequences of the pandemic, including the measures taken at various levels of government to contain the virus’s spread, we expect that our ability to add new customers, as well as to grow revenues from existing customers, will be adversely affected due to economic slowdown, business closures, furloughs, hiring freezes and reductions in hours worked.

The following table sets forth the percentages of total revenues represented by selected items in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 ($ in thousands):

	Percentage of Total Net Revenues
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021						2020
Revenues:
Professional employer service fees	$	193,819		88.7		%	$	193,592		88.4		%
Staffing services		24,626		11.3				25,512		11.6
Total revenues		218,445		100.0				219,104		100.0
Cost of revenues:
Direct payroll costs		18,450		8.4				19,077		8.7
Payroll taxes and benefits		122,783		56.2				119,462		54.5
Workers’ compensation		46,347		21.2				54,514		24.9
Total cost of revenues		187,580		85.8				193,053		88.1
Gross margin		30,865		14.2				26,051		11.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses		37,107		17.0				32,115		14.7
Depreciation and amortization		1,297		0.6				1,000		0.5
Loss from operations		(7,539	)	(3.4	)			(7,064	)	(3.3	)
Other income, net		1,470		0.7				2,733		1.3
Loss before income taxes		(6,069	)	(2.8	)			(4,331	)	(2.0	)
Benefit from income taxes		(1,515	)	(0.7	)			(924	)	(0.4	)
Net loss	$	(4,554	)	(2.1	)	%	$	(3,407	)	(1.6	)	%

We report professional employer (“PEO”) services revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for wage payments to our clients’ employees. However, management believes that gross billings and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as an important performance metric in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billings and wage information for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2021		2020
Gross billings	$	1,471,541	$	1,439,120
PEO and staffing wages	$	1,271,392	$	1,232,581

Because safety incentives represent consideration payable to PEO customers, safety incentive costs are netted against PEO revenue in our consolidated statements of operations. We therefore present below for purposes of analysis non-GAAP gross workers’ compensation expense, which represents workers’ compensation costs including safety incentive costs. We believe this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating the total costs of our workers’ compensation program.

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2021		2020
Workers' compensation	$	46,347	$	54,514
Safety incentive costs		1,075		6,979
Non-GAAP gross workers' compensation	$	47,422	$	61,493

In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations, management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.

	(Unaudited)
	Percentage of Gross Billings
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021	2020
PEO and staffing wages	86.4%	85.6%
Payroll taxes and benefits	8.3%	8.3%
Non-GAAP gross workers' compensation	3.2%	4.3%
Gross margin	2.1%	1.8%

The presentation of revenue on a net basis and the relative contributions of staffing and PEO services revenue can create volatility in our gross margin as a percentage of revenue. A relative increase in PEO services revenue will result in a higher gross margin as a percentage of revenue. Improvement in gross margin percentage occurs because incremental client services revenue dollars are reported as revenue net of all related direct payroll and safety incentive costs.

We refer to employees of our PEO clients as worksite employees (“WSEs”). Management reviews average and ending WSE growth to monitor and evaluate the performance of our operations. Average WSEs are calculated by dividing the number of unique individuals paid in each month by the number of months in the period. Ending WSEs represents the number of unique individuals paid in the last month of the period.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2021	% Change	2020		% Change
Average WSEs	106,300	-6.1%		113,226	3.1%
Ending WSEs	108,423	-4.3%		113,349	1.6%

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

Net loss for the first quarter of 2021 amounted to $4.6 million compared to net loss of $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2020. Diluted loss per share for the first quarter of 2021 was $0.60 compared to diluted loss per share of $0.45 for the first quarter of 2020.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $218.4 million, a decrease of $0.7 million or 0.3% over the first quarter of 2020, which reflects an increase in the Company’s PEO service fee revenue of $0.2 million or 0.1% and a decrease in staffing services revenue of $0.9 million or 3.5%.

Our growth in PEO services revenues was primarily attributable to an increase in average billing per WSE, partially offset by a decrease in the average number of WSEs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in staffing services revenue was due primarily to the impacts of COVID-19 during the 2021 period.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $30.9 million or 14.2% of revenue compared to $26.1 million or 11.9% of revenue for the first quarter of 2020. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenues is a result of the factors discussed within the separate components of gross margin below.

Direct payroll costs for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $18.5 million or 8.4% of revenue compared to $19.1 million or 8.7% of revenue for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in the direct payroll costs percentage was primarily due to the increase in PEO services and the decrease of staffing services within the mix of our customer base compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Payroll taxes and benefits for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $122.8 million or 56.2% of revenue compared to $119.5 million or 54.5% of revenue for the first quarter of 2020. The increase in payroll taxes and benefits as a percentage of revenues is primarily due to the relative increase in PEO services within the mix of our customer base compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Workers’ compensation expense for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $46.3 million or 21.2% of revenue compared to $54.5 million or 24.9% for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in workers’ compensation expense as a percentage of revenue is primarily related to lower loss accrual rates and a favorable adjustment related to claims incurred in prior periods of $1.2 million compared to a favorable adjustment of $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2021 totaled $37.1 million or 17.0% of revenue compared to $32.1 million or 14.7% of revenue for the first quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to management changes during the first quarter of 2020 which resulted in reductions of $1.9 million and $1.1 million in stock compensation expense and incentive compensation during the prior year quarter as well as increased IT costs in the first quarter of 2021.

Other income, net for the first quarter of 2021 was $1.5 million, compared to other income, net of $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in investment income in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of lower interest rates.

Our effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2021 was 25.0%, compared to 21.3% for the first quarter of 2020. Our income tax rate typically differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to state taxes and federal and state tax credits.

Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

We have historically experienced significant fluctuations in our quarterly operating results, including losses in the first quarter of each year, and expect such fluctuations to continue in the future. Our operating results may fluctuate due to a number of factors such as seasonality, wage limits on statutory payroll taxes, claims experience for workers’ compensation, demand for our services, and competition. Payroll taxes, as a component of cost of revenues, generally decline throughout a calendar year as the applicable statutory wage bases for federal and state unemployment taxes and Social Security taxes are exceeded on a per employee basis. Our revenue levels may be higher in the third quarter due to the effect of increased business activity of our customers’ businesses in the agriculture, food processing and forest products-related industries. In addition, revenues in the fourth quarter may be reduced by many customers’ practice of operating on holiday-shortened schedules. Workers’ compensation expense varies with both the frequency and severity of workplace injury claims reported during a quarter and the estimated future costs of such claims. In addition, positive or adverse loss development of prior period claims during a subsequent quarter may also contribute to the volatility in the Company’s estimated workers’ compensation expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s cash balance of $96.5 million, which includes cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, decreased $137.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to an increase of $3.5 million for the comparable period of 2020. The decrease in cash at March 31, 2021 as compared to December 31, 2020 was primarily due to increased trade accounts receivable and purchases of investments and restricted investments, partially offset by increased accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits and proceeds from sales and maturities of investments and restricted investments.

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $7.9 million, compared to net cash provided of $1.0 million for the comparable period of 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, cash used in operating activities was primarily due to increased trade accounts receivable of $88.9 million, decreased safety incentive liability of $7.6 million and net loss of $4.6 million, partially offset by an increase in accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits of $83.9 million and increase in workers compensation liability of $5.3 million.

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $124.3 million, compared to net cash provided of $7.2 million for the comparable period of 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of purchases of investments and restricted investments of $156.2 million and purchases of property, equipment and software of $1.8 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales and maturities of investments and restricted investments of $33.7 million.

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $5.1 million, compared to net cash used of $4.8 million for the comparable period of 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, cash was primarily used for dividend payments of $2.3 million and repurchases of common stock of $3.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from exercises of stock options of $0.8 million.

As part of its fronted workers’ compensation insurance program with Chubb, the Company makes monthly collateral payments into trust accounts (the “Chubb trust accounts”). The balance in the Chubb trust accounts was $295.4 million and $290.7 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Chubb trust account balances are included as a component of the current and long-term restricted cash and investments on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company maintains an agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Bank for a revolving credit line of $33.0 million and a sublimit for standby letters of credit of $8.0 million. At March 31, 2021, $6.2 million of the sublimit for standby letters of credit was used. Advances under the revolving credit line bear interest, as selected by the Company, of (a) the daily floating rate of one-month LIBOR plus 1.75% or (b) the fixed rate of LIBOR plus 1.75%. The Agreement also provides for an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per year on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit line, as well as a fee of 1.75% of the face amount of each letter of credit reserved under the line of credit. The Company had no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit line at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The credit facility is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and other rights to receive payment.

The Agreement also provides a $63.7 million standby letter of credit (the “Chubb Letter of Credit”). In April 2021, the Company and Chubb reached an agreement to replace the Chubb Letter of Credit with other collateral assets and cancel the Chubb Letter of Credit in its entirety. As part of the transaction, the Bank released the $38.7 million of collateral held in support of the Chubb Letter of Credit, and the Company transferred the $38.7 million along with an additional $25.0 million to the Chubb trust accounts to satisfy the collateral requirements of the fronted program.

The Agreement requires the satisfaction of certain financial covenants as follows:

•

the ratio of restricted and unrestricted cash and investments to workers’ compensation and safety incentive liabilities must be at least 1.0:1.0, measured quarterly.

The Agreement imposes certain additional restrictions unless the Bank provides its prior written consent as follows:

•

the Company may not terminate or cancel any of the AICE policies; and

•

Inflation

Inflation generally has not been a significant factor in the Company’s operations during the periods discussed above. The Company has taken into account the impact of escalating medical and other costs in establishing reserves for future workers’ compensation claims payments.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this report include forward-looking statements which are not historical in nature and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, discussion of economic conditions in our market areas and their effect on revenue levels, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations, the competitiveness of our service offerings, our ability to attract and retain clients and to achieve revenue growth, the effect of changes in our mix of services on gross margin, the effect of tight labor market conditions, the adequacy of our workers’ compensation reserves, the effect of changes in estimates of our future claims liabilities on our workers’ compensation reserves, including the effect of changes in our reserving practices and claims management process on our actuarial estimates, expected levels of required surety deposits and letters of credit, our ability to generate sufficient taxable income in the future to utilize our deferred tax assets, the effect of our formation and operation of two wholly owned licensed insurance subsidiaries, the risks of operation and cost of our fronted insurance program with Chubb, the financial viability of our excess insurance carriers, the effectiveness of our management information systems, our relationship with our primary bank lender and the availability of financing and working capital to meet our funding requirements, litigation costs, the effect of changes in the interest rate environment on the value of our investment securities and long-term debt, the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts, and the potential for and effect of acquisitions.

All of our forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or industry to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors with respect to the Company include our ability to retain current clients and attract new clients, the effects of governmental orders imposing business closures and shelter-in-place and social distancing requirements, difficulties associated with integrating clients into our operations, economic trends in our service areas, the potential for material deviations from expected future workers’ compensation claims experience, changes in the workers’ compensation regulatory environment in our primary markets, security breaches or failures in the Company’s information technology systems, collectability of accounts receivable, changes in effective payroll tax rates and federal and state income tax rates, the carrying values of deferred income tax assets and goodwill (which may be affected by our future operating results), the impact of and potential changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, escalating medical costs, and other health care legislative initiatives on our business, the effect of conditions in the global capital markets on our investment portfolio, and the availability of capital, borrowing capacity on our revolving credit facility, or letters of credit necessary to meet state-mandated surety deposit requirements for maintaining our status as a qualified self-insured employer for workers’ compensation coverage or our fronted insurance program. Additional risk factors affecting our business are discussed in Item 1A of Part II of this report and Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021. We disclaim any obligation to publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates primarily relates to its investment portfolio and its outstanding borrowings on its line of credit and long-term debt. As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s investments consisted principally of $208.8 million in corporate bonds, $80.2 million in mortgage backed securities, $44.7 million in U.S. government agency securities, $39.5 million in money market funds, $37.2 million in asset backed securities, $29.3 million in U.S. treasuries and $5.8 million in mutual funds. The Company’s outstanding debt totaled approximately $3.7 million at March 31, 2021. Based on the Company’s overall interest exposure at March 31, 2021, a 50 basis point increase in market interest rates would have a $7.6 million effect on the fair value of the Company’s investment portfolio. A 50 basis point increase would have an immaterial effect on the Company’s outstanding borrowings because of the relative size of the outstanding borrowings.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”) as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our ICFR is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” that are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management is required to apply their judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Based on their evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective as of March 31, 2021.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations

Control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control systems’ objectives are being met. Further, the design of any control systems must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of all controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Control systems can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

PART II-OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

See the information disclosed in “Note 6 - Litigation," to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Other than the information below, there have been no material changes in the risk factors that were included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021.

The Company’s business may be negatively affected by outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization and the United States government declared COVID-19 a pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventative actions such as shelter-in-place orders, restrictions on travel, and temporary closures of businesses deemed to be high-risk or non-essential are ongoing in many areas of the country, including states where BBSI and our clients operate, particularly on the West Coast. These restrictions on business operations have significantly disrupted, the U.S. economy, including small-and mid-sized businesses, which comprise our primary client base. Our clients are continuing to experience workforce reductions in the form of layoffs, furloughs, and reductions in hours worked. As our PEO fees are based on client payroll, these responses by clients to the pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, clients who are impacted by government restrictions and shutdowns may experience liquidity and other financial issues, which may reduce their capacity to pay for our services.

In response to the pandemic, federal and state government agencies have enacted numerous laws and regulatory guidelines designed to help the economy, individuals and employers, including retroactively. Many of these legislative and regulatory changes, including the America Rescue Plan enacted on March 11, 2021, directly impact the Company and our clients. Failure to appropriately interpret and comply with legal and regulatory changes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation. Additionally, failure to incorporate changes to laws and regulations resulting from COVID-19 into our PEO business model may decrease our ability to attract and retain clients.

Additionally, many states have revised their workers’ compensation standards of coverage to include COVID-19 related illnesses for certain groups of workers. While effects on the Company’s workers’ compensation exposure in the states in which we operate have been limited to date, these changes in laws and regulations or in the pattern of COVID-19 illnesses could increase our exposure to workers’ compensation claims.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and related government mandates, the Company transitioned much of its workforce to a temporary remote working model, which may adversely affect the Company’s ability to provide the level of service our clients expect. As our employees work from home and access the Company’s systems remotely, the Company may be exposed to heightened security risks, including the risk of cyber-attacks. Additionally, if any of the Company’s key management employees are unable to perform their duties for an extended period, including as the result of illness, the Company’s business could be adversely affected.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused significant volatility and uncertainty in the U.S. economy that may result in a prolonged economic downturn, which could in turn lead to increases in workers’ compensation and unemployment claims, increased unemployment taxes, increased uncollectable receivables and reductions in the value of the Company’s investment portfolio.

Continuation or exacerbation of the consequences of the pandemic is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition, which may also result in our inability to comply with financial covenants under our credit facilities, our inability to obtain necessary additional financing and a decline in stockholder value.

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table summarizes information related to stock repurchases during the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Month	Total Number of Shares Repurchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan ⁽¹⁾		Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Repurchased Under the Plan ⁽¹⁾
January		7,000	$	67.70		7,000	$	41,471,724
February		—		—		—		41,471,724
March		41,594		71.24		41,594		38,508,505
Total		48,594				48,594

(1) In August 2019, the Board had authorized the repurchase of up to $50.0 million of shares of the Company’s stock from time to time in open market purchases over a three-year period beginning August 15, 2019. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased 193,064 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $11.5 million.

Item 6.

Exhibits

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
32		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document- the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104		The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, has been formatted in Inline XBRL.

**	Except as otherwise indicated, the SEC File Number for all exhibits is 000-21886.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
	Registrant

Date: May 5, 2021	By:	/s/ Anthony J. Harris
		Anthony J. Harris
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer