News Releases

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., January 22, 2001
Westaff, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTF), a leading provider of essential staffing services, announces the launch of a new financial division - AccountantsUSA®.

AccountantsUSA®, with headquarters in Walnut Creek, CA, will specialize in staffing multi-level accounting and finance positions. This division plans to conduct most of its business over the Internet through its Web site at accountantsusa1.com. AccountantsUSA® also plans to establish a network of accounting and finance professionals and will draw on Westaff's existing client base. AccountantsUSA® plans to open its first branch office in Pleasanton, CA, in early February.

Nancy Painter has been hired for the newly created position of AccountantsUSA® Division Manager. Painter brings over 10 years of financial and executive placement experience to the table, including temp-to-hire and direct-hire placements. Before joining AccountantsUSA®, Painter spent five years with Cristol Financial Personnel and five years with Interim Accounting Professionals.

"AccountantsUSA® provides a unique opportunity to build a business model utilizing the Internet as a significant tool to drive the placement process," Painter said. "I'm excited to roll out - on a national basis - a model that has worked for me locally."

"It is our goal to have an AccountantsUSA® presence in a number of markets before the end of fiscal 2001," said John Grossu, Westaff Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Solutions.

Westaff provides essential staffing services to and employment opportunities at competitive businesses in global markets. Westaff annually employs approximately 270,000 people worldwide and services approximately 25,000 clients from more than 350 offices located throughout the U.S., Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark. Westaff achieved fiscal 2000 system revenues of more than $700 million. For information about AccountantsUSA®, contact Steve Guertin at (925) 930-5300, x2239, or sguertin@westaff.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance of the company that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. We refer you to documents that the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports, which contain a description of certain factors that could cause actual results to differ from current expectations and the forward-looking statements in this press release.