KELYA · Read the filing

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Executive Overview

2023 marked a year of macroeconomic headwinds and challenging staffing market dynamics as employers in most sectors maintained a guarded approach to hiring and focused on retaining their current workforce amid ongoing economic uncertainty. In more resilient pockets of the economy where employers are in need of talent, the supply of candidates to fill open roles remains constrained. These dynamics put pressure on our business as the year progressed, and while we captured growth where it exists, their effects became more noticeable in certain parts of our portfolio.

•Our Education segment continued to report significant year-over-year growth driven by improved fill rates, strong demand from existing customers, and net new customer wins.

•Our higher margin outcome-based solutions in P&I delivered revenue growth as demand for these value-added solutions continues.

•We continued to experience a deceleration in demand for temporary and permanent placement services as well as talent solutions, which impacted results in our P&I, SET and OCG segments.

•We maintained a disciplined approach to managing expenses, including our transformation initiatives, while ensuring Kelly is well positioned to capture demand on the other side of the current economic cycle.

We have remained focused on the future and took aggressive action on our transformation journey to improve Kelly’s profitability and accelerate growth over the long term. Since announcing the transformation in May, our business unit and enterprise function teams, together with the Transformation Management Office, have made substantial progress on multiple initiatives to drive organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The actions we have taken to date include restructuring actions, which has reduced our full-time employee headcount, and renegotiated supplier agreements and real estate contracts to deliver structural cost savings.

We have also committed to finding new avenues of growth. This includes a refreshed go-to-market strategy with a comprehensive approach to delivering the full suite of Kelly solutions to our large enterprise customers that is intended to capture a greater share of wallet as we move into 2024. We also remain committed to delivering the highest quality of service to all customers regardless of spend or size. In our P&I segment, for example, we have enhanced our local delivery model and rolled out our Kelly Now mobile application across the U.S to meet the needs of clients and talent.

We completed the sale of our European staffing operations on January 2, 2024. We move forward with a further streamlined operating model focused on North American staffing and global MSP and RPO solutions.

Together these changes represent structural shifts in Kelly’s operations and are delivering meaningful improvement to the Company’s EBITDA margin which we expect to continue as we move into 2024 and beyond.

Financial Measures

The constant currency (“CC”) change amounts refer to the year-over-year percentage changes resulting from translating 2023 financial data into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates used to translate financial data for 2022. We believe that CC measurements are a useful measure, indicating the actual trends of our operations without distortion due to currency fluctuations. We use CC results when analyzing the performance of our segments and measuring our results against those of our competitors. Additionally, substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries derive revenues and incur cost of services and selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses within a single country and currency which, as a result, provides a natural hedge against currency risks in connection with their normal business operations.

CC measures are non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures and are used to supplement measures in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP measures may be calculated differently from those provided by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Reported and CC percentage changes were computed based on actual amounts in thousands of dollars.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and EBITDA margin (EBITDA divided by revenue from services) are measures used by management to compare the Company's operating performance to prior periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that management does not believe are indicative of our normal operations.

Free cash flow (operating cash flows less capital expenditures) is a measure used by management to indicate the change in cash balances arising from operating activities, net of working capital needs and expenditures on fixed assets.

NM (not meaningful) in the following tables is used in place of percentage changes where: the change is in excess of 500%, the change involves a comparison between earnings and loss amounts, or the comparison amount is zero.

Days sales outstanding (“DSO”) represents the number of days that sales remain unpaid for the period being reported. DSO is calculated by dividing average net sales per day (based on a rolling three-month period) into trade accounts receivable, net of allowances at the period end. Although secondary supplier revenues are recorded on a net basis (net of secondary supplier expense), secondary supplier revenue is included in the daily sales calculation in order to properly reflect the gross revenue amounts billed to the customer.

Results of Operations

Total Company

(Dollars in millions)

Restructuring charges and transaction costs 42.4 1.4 NM

Asset impairment charge 2.4 — NM

Goodwill impairment charge — 41.0 NM

Loss on disposal — 18.7 NM

Gain on sale of assets — (6.2) NM

Loss on investment in Persol Holdings — (67.2) NM

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary — (20.4) NM

Unrealized loss on forward contract (3.6) — NM

Equity in net earnings of affiliate — 0.8 NM

Net earnings (loss) $ 36.4 $ (62.5) NM %

Gross profit rate 19.9 % 20.4 % (0.5) pts.

The discussion that follows focuses on 2023 results compared to 2022. For a discussion of 2022 results compared to 2021, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2023, filed on February 16, 2023.

2023 vs. 2022

Revenue from services decreased 2.6% on a reported basis and 3.2% on a constant currency basis, and reflects revenue decreases in Professional & Industrial, Science, Engineering & Technology, Outsourcing & Consulting and International operating segments, partially offset by an increase in the Education segment. Our first quarter 2022 acquisition of RocketPower, an RPO solutions provider, and our second quarter 2022 acquisition of PTS, a specialty firm that provides in-school therapy services, added approximately 40 basis points to the revenue growth rate. Compared to 2022, revenue from staffing services decreased 2.8% and revenue from outcome-based services increased 5.9%. Permanent placement revenue, which is included in revenue from services, decreased 33.6% from 2022.

Gross profit decreased 5.0% on a reported basis and 5.3% on a constant currency basis on lower revenue volume, combined with a decrease in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate decreased 50 basis points due primarily to lower permanent placement income, partially offset by favorable business mix. The gross profit rate decreased in all operating segments. Permanent placement revenue, which is included in revenue from services and has very low direct costs of services, has a disproportionate impact on gross profit rates.

Total SG&A expenses decreased 0.9% on a reported basis and 1.4% on a constant currency basis. Included in SG&A expenses in 2023 was $35.5 million of transformation and restructuring charges and $6.9 million of transaction costs, which includes employee termination costs, incurred in the fourth quarter of 2023 directly related to the sale of the EMEA staffing operations in the first quarter of 2024. In the first quarter of 2023, actions were taken to further our cost management efforts in response to current demand levels and to reposition our P&I staffing business to better capitalize on opportunities in local markets. In the

last three quarters of 2023, additional actions were taken that will further streamline the Company's operating model to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness as part of a comprehensive transformation initiative. Excluding transformation and restructuring charges and transaction costs, SG&A expenses decreased 5.3% on a reported basis and 5.8% on a constant currency basis. The decrease in SG&A expenses primarily related to lower performance-based incentive compensation expenses in response to lower revenue volume, lower salary expenses as a result of transformation-related workforce reductions, as well as reduced expenses from the sale of our Russian operations in 2022.

Impairment of assets in 2023 represents the second quarter impairment of right-of-use assets related to an unoccupied office space lease exited in the quarter. The goodwill impairment charge in 2022 relates to our RocketPower business which delivers recruitment process outsourcing services primarily to customers in the high-tech industry and is included in the OCG segment. Changes in market conditions related to demand in hiring in the high-tech industry and slowing growth in RPO more broadly resulted in an impairment charge of $41.0 million.

Loss on disposal related to the completion of the sale of our Russia operations in July 2022. Gain on sale of assets in the second quarter of 2022 related to the disposition of under-utilized real property located in the United States.

Earnings from operations for 2023 totaled $24.3 million, compared to earnings of $14.8 million in 2022. The increase is primarily related to the impact from the prior year goodwill impairment charge and loss on sale of our Russia operations, partially offset by the impact of our 2023 transformation and restructuring charges, transaction costs, asset impairment charge, and the impact of lower revenue compared to the prior year in addition to the impact of the 2022 gain on sale of assets.

The loss on investment in Persol Holdings in 2022 represented the $52.4 million loss resulting from changes in the market price of our investment in the common stock of Persol Holdings up until the date of the transaction and the $14.8 million loss on sale, including transaction costs from the sale of the investment in an open-market transaction.

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary represents the impact of the liquidation of our Kelly Japan subsidiary following the sale of the company’s investment in Persol Holdings and the return of capital through a dividend payment to its U.S. parent.

Unrealized loss on forward contract represents the non-cash, mark-to-market losses on the foreign currency forward contract the Company entered into in the fourth quarter of 2023 to mitigate the exchange rate risk associated with the future cash proceeds from the sale of the EMEA staffing operations.

Income tax benefit was $11.5 million for 2023 and 7.9 million for 2022. Included in the 2023 benefit are a $15.0 million federal and state benefit on the outside basis difference of held for sale assets and a $6.5 million benefit from tax-exempt life insurance cash surrender value gains, offset by a net $4.4 million charge for valuation allowance changes. 2022 benefited from lower pretax earnings, a $16.9 million benefit from changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings, and a $7.1 million benefit from the impairment of tax-deductible goodwill. These benefits were offset by the $7.8 charge associated with tax exempt life insurance cash surrender value losses.

Our tax expense is affected by recurring items, such as the amount of pretax income and its mix by jurisdiction, U.S. work opportunity credits and the change in cash surrender value of tax-exempt investments in life insurance policies. It is also affected by discrete items that may occur in any given period but are not consistent from period to period, such as tax law changes, changes in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets and the tax effects of stock compensation.

The net earnings for 2023 are $36.4 million, compared to a net loss of $62.5 million for 2022. This change primarily reflects the prior year impact of the Persol Holdings investment, including the first quarter 2022 sale and related impacts, the 2022 goodwill impairment charge, and the 2022 loss on disposal related to the sale of our Russian operations which were partially offset by the 2023 transformation-related charges.

Operating Results By Segment

(Dollars in millions)

Revenue From Services:

Less: Intersegment revenue (19.6) (2.6) NM

2023 vs. 2022

Professional & Industrial revenue from services decreased 11.0%. The decrease was due primarily to a 16.2% decline in staffing services resulting from lower hours volume, partially offset by higher bill rates. Revenue from outcome-based services increased 7.9% due to increased demand.

Science, Engineering & Technology revenue from services decreased 5.9% which was driven by a decline in staffing services resulting from declines in hours volume in our staffing specialties, partially offset by higher bill rates. Permanent placement fees were down 40.2% and revenues from outcome-based services increased 3.7%.

Education revenue from services increased 32.3%. The revenue increase includes the impact of the acquisition of PTS in May 2022. On an organic basis, revenue increased 29.8% reflecting an increased fill rate and an increased demand for our services from existing customers and from net new customer wins.

Outsourcing & Consulting revenue from services decreased 2.8% on a reported basis, which includes the revenue from the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022. On an organic basis, revenue decreased 3.4% due primarily to lower RPO and MSP revenue.

International revenue from services decreased 5.1% on a reported basis and decreased 8.9% in constant currency. The decrease was primarily the result of the sale of our Russian operations in July 2022. Revenue in Europe decreased 8.4% on a reported basis and decreased 11.5% in constant currency, primarily due to the impact of the sale of our Russian operations and lower volume in several geographies.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Gross Profit:

Science, Engineering & Technology 272.0 297.0 (8.4)

Gross Profit Rate:

Professional & Industrial 17.8 % 18.2 % (0.4) pts.

Science, Engineering & Technology 22.8 23.5 (0.7)

Consolidated Total 19.9 % 20.4 % (0.5) pts.

2023 vs. 2022

Gross profit for the Professional & Industrial segment decreased on lower revenue volume combined with a decrease in the gross profit rate. In comparison to the prior year, the gross profit rate decreased 40 basis points. This decrease reflects lower permanent placement income and higher employee-related costs, partially offset by favorable business mix.

Science, Engineering & Technology gross profit decreased on lower revenue volume. The gross profit rate decreased 70 basis points due to lower permanent placement revenues, partially offset by favorable business mix.

Gross profit for the Education segment increased on higher revenue volume. The gross profit rate decreased 50 basis points due primarily to lower permanent placement fees and unfavorable customer mix, partially offset by lower employee-related costs.

Outsourcing & Consulting gross profit decreased on lower revenue volume, combined with a decrease in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate decreased 30 basis points primarily driven by declines in revenue in RPO and MSP, which generate higher margins.

International gross profit decreased 6.3% on a reported basis and decreased 10.0% on a constant currency basis. The decrease was primarily the result of the sale of our Russian operations in July 2022 and the servicing of certain customer programs by OCG in 2023. Partially offsetting these impacts was improving gross profit primarily driven by higher revenue volume in Mexico, Portugal and Germany.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

SG&A Expenses:

Science, Engineering & Technology 197.6 214.9 (8.1)

2023 vs. 2022

Total SG&A expenses in Professional & Industrial decreased 12.4%, or 14.8% excluding restructuring charges of $6.7 million. The decrease excluding restructuring charges is primarily due to lower salary-related and performance-based incentive compensation expenses due to transformation-related actions and in response to lower revenue volume.

Total SG&A expenses in Science, Engineering & Technology decreased 8.1% from the prior year, primarily due to lower performance-based incentive compensation expenses.

Total SG&A expenses in Education increased 13% from the prior year and includes the first quarter impact of the acquisition of PTS in May 2022. Excluding the impact of the PTS acquisition, SG&A expenses increased 10.4% from the prior year, due primarily to higher salary-related and performance-based incentive compensation expenses as headcount has increased as revenues have grown.

Total SG&A expenses in Outsourcing & Consulting increased 3.1% from the prior year, or 1.3% excluding restructuring charges of $3.0 million, and includes the first quarter impact of the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022. Excluding restructuring charges and the impact of the RocketPower acquisition, SG&A expenses were flat to prior year.

Total SG&A expenses in International decreased 0.9% on a reported basis and 4.7% on a constant currency basis. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of the sale of our Russian operations in July 2022, partially offset by employee termination costs related to the sale of the EMEA staffing operations in the first quarter of 2024.

Corporate expenses increased 29.8%, primarily due to restructuring and transformation charges as well as transaction costs related to the sale of the EMEA staffing operations in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding restructuring and transformation charges of $23.0 million and transaction costs of $3.8 million, expenses increased 1.8% year-over-year. The increase excluding these charges is primarily due to litigation-related costs.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Earnings from Operations:

Professional & Industrial $ 26.6 $ 32.0 (16.9) %

Science, Engineering & Technology 74.3 82.1 (9.5)

Outsourcing & Consulting 6.9 (21.2) NM

Loss on disposal — (18.7) NM

Gain on sale of assets — 6.2 NM

2023 vs. 2022

Professional & Industrial reported earnings of $26.6 million, a 16.9% decrease from 2022. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to lower revenue and gross profit, partially offset by lower SG&A expenses.

Science, Engineering & Technology reported earnings of $74.3 million, a 9.5% decrease from 2022. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to lower revenue and gross profit, partially offset by lower SG&A expenses.

Education reported earnings of $36.3 million in 2023, compared to earnings of $18.5 million in 2022. The change was primarily due to the increase in revenue and gross profit, coupled with good cost management. 2023 results also include the impact of first quarter earnings of $2.7 million from PTS acquired in May 2022.

Outsourcing & Consulting reported earnings of $6.9 million in 2023, compared to a loss of $21.2 million in 2022. The increase in earnings was primarily due to the impact of the prior year $41.0 million charge related to the impairment of goodwill of RocketPower, partially offset by the first quarter 2023 loss of $2.6 million from RocketPower, acquired in March 2022, the impact of a $2.4 million right-of-use asset impairment charge in the second quarter of 2023, the impact of 2023 restructuring charges and the impact of lower revenue and gross profit.

International reported earnings of $2.1 million in 2023, compared to earnings of $9.9 million a year ago. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to the transfer of certain customer programs to Outsourcing & Consulting, the impact of the sale of our Russian operations and employee termination costs related to the sale of the EMEA staffing operations in the first quarter of 2024.

Corporate expenses increased $27.9 million year-over-year primarily due to restructuring and transformation charges of $23.0 million and transaction costs of $3.8 million.

Loss on disposal related to the completion of the sale of our Russia operations in July 2022. Gain on sale of assets in 2022 related to the disposition of under-utilized real property located in the United States.

Results of Operations

Financial Condition

Historically, we have financed our operations through cash generated by operating activities and access to credit markets. Our working capital requirements are primarily generated from temporary employee payroll, which is generally paid weekly or monthly, and customer accounts receivable, which is generally outstanding for longer periods. Since receipts from customers lag payroll payments to temporary employees, working capital requirements increase and operating cash flows may decrease substantially in periods of growth.Conversely, when economic activity slows, working capital requirements may substantially decrease and operating cash flows increase. Such increases dissipate over time if the economic downturn continues for an extended period.

As highlighted in the consolidated statements of cash flows, our liquidity and available capital resources are impacted by four key components: cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, operating activities, investing activities and financing activities.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, totaled $167.6 million, including $33.5 million held for sale, at year-end 2023, compared to $162.4 million at year-end 2022. As further described below, during 2023, we generated $76.7 million of cash for operating activities, used $14.1 million of cash for investing activities and used $59.6 million of cash for financing activities.

Operating Activities

In 2023, we generated $76.7 million of net cash for operating activities, as compared to using $76.3 million in 2022 and generating $85.0 million in 2021, primarily due to decreased working capital requirements. Accounts receivable have decreased in 2023 as a result of lower revenue. Net cash used for operating activities in 2022 and 2021 included $86.8 million and $29.7 million, respectively, of cash outflows related to the repayment of U.S. payroll taxes originally deferred in 2020. In addition, in 2022 we paid $48.4 million of income taxes related to the sale of Persol Holdings common stock.

Trade accounts receivable, excluding $200.9 million held for sale, totaled $1.2 billion at year-end 2023 and $1.5 billion at year-end 2022. Accounts receivable have decreased as a result of lower revenue and lower DSO. Global DSO for the fourth quarter was 59 days for 2023, which includes held for sale, compared to 61 days for 2022. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities was $646.1 million, excluding $24.5 million held for sale, and decreased from year-end 2022 as a result of a decrease in supplier payables and timing of customer payments. The change from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to the impact of payments related to the payroll tax deferral, income tax payments related to the sale of Persol Holdings common stock and increased working capital requirements.

Our working capital position, (total current assets less total current liabilities), was $606.7 million, excluding held for sale, at year-end 2023, an increase of $20.3 million from year-end 2022. The current ratio (total current assets divided by total current liabilities) was 1.6 at year-end 2023 and 1.5 at year end 2022.

Investing Activities

In 2023, we used $14.1 million of net cash from investing activities, compared to generating $167.5 million in 2022 and using $180.7 million in 2021. Included in cash used for investing activities in 2023 is $15.3 million of cash used for capital expenditures, partially offset by $2.0 million for the receipt of the final payment in connection with an investment that was sold in 2021.

Included in cash generated from investing activities in 2022 is $196.9 million of proceeds from the sale of the investment in Persol Holdings, $119.5 million of proceeds from the sale of almost all of the Company's shares in our equity investment in PersolKelly and $10.1 million of proceeds from the sale of land and other real property. This was partially offset by $58.3 million of cash used for the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022, net of cash received, $84.8 million of cash used for the acquisition of PTS in May 2022, net of cash received, and $6.0 million of cash disposed from the sale of our operations in Russia in July 2022, net of proceeds.

Included in cash used for investing activities in 2021 is $213.0 million of cash used for the acquisition of Softworld in April 2021, net of cash received and including working capital adjustments. This was partially offset by $19.0 million of proceeds from an insurance settlement that represented a payment received in the fourth quarter of 2021 related to the settlement of

claims under a representations and warranties insurance policy purchased by the Company in connection with the acquisition of Softworld.

Capital expenditures totaled $15.3 million in 2023, $12.0 million in 2022 and $11.2 million in 2021. Capital expenditures in both 2023 and 2022 primarily related to the Company's IT infrastructure and technology programs. Capital expenditures in 2021 primarily related to the Company's IT infrastructure, technology programs and headquarters building improvements.

Financing Activities

In 2023, we used $59.6 million of cash for financing activities, as compared to using $50.6 million in 2022 and using $8.1 million in 2021. The change in cash used for financing activities was primarily related to the year-over-year change in the buyback of the Company's common shares and the year-over-year change in dividend payments. In 2023, the buyback of $42.2 million represents repurchases of the Company's Class A common stock as part of the shares repurchase program compared to $7.8 million in shares repurchased of the Company's Class A common stock in 2022 and $27.2 million for the buyback of the Company's common shares held by Persol Holdings in February 2022. Dividends paid per common share were $0.30 in 2023, $0.275 in 2022 and $0.10 in 2021. Payments of dividends are restricted by the financial covenants contained in our debt facilities. Details of this restriction are contained in the Debt footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Debt-to-total capital (total debt reported in the consolidated balance sheet divided by total debt plus stockholders’ equity) is a common ratio to measure the relative capital structure and leverage of the Company. Our ratio of debt-to-total capital was 0.0% at year-end 2023 and 0.1% at year-end 2022.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Summarized below are our obligations and commitments to make future payments as of year-end 2023 (in millions of dollars):

Payment due by period

Total Less than1 year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years More than5 years

Uncertain income tax positions 0.8 0.3 — 0.4 0.1

(1)Includes future payments for held for sale obligations and commitments. See Held for Sale footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

Purchase obligations above represent unconditional commitments relating primarily to technology services and online tools which we expect to utilize generally within the next three fiscal years, in the ordinary course of business. We have no material, unrecorded commitments, losses, contingencies or guarantees associated with any related parties or unconsolidated entities.

Liquidity

We expect to meet our ongoing short-term and long-term cash requirements principally through cash generated from operations, available cash and equivalents, securitization of customer receivables and committed unused credit facilities. Additional funding sources could include additional bank facilities or sale of non-core assets. To meet significant cash requirements related to our nonqualified retirement plan, we may utilize proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies.

We assess and monitor our liquidity and capital resources globally. We use a global cash pooling arrangement (the "Cash Pool"), intercompany loans, dividends, capital contributions, redemptions and local lines of credit to meet funding needs and allocate our capital resources among our various subsidiaries. The Cash Pool is a set of cash accounts maintained with a single bank that must, as a whole, maintain at least a zero balance; individual accounts may be positive or negative. This allows subsidiaries with excess cash to invest and subsidiaries with cash needs to utilize the excess cash. We periodically review our foreign subsidiaries’ cash balances and projected cash needs. As part of those reviews, we may identify cash that we feel should be repatriated to optimize the Company’s overall capital structure. As of year-end 2023, these reviews have not resulted in specific plans to repatriate a majority of our international cash balances. In addition, as of year-end 2023, $33.5 million of our international cash balances are classified as held for sale related to the sale of our EMEA staffing operations in the first quarter of 2024 (see Held for Sale footnote in the notes to our consolidated footnotes for more details). The Company will continue to provide MSP, RPO and Functional Service Provider solutions in the EMEA region. Therefore, we expect much of our international cash, excluding cash classified as held for sale, will be needed to fund working capital growth in our local operations.

We have historically managed our cash and debt closely to optimize our capital structure. As our cash balances build, we tend to pay down debt as appropriate. Conversely, when working capital needs grow, we tend to use corporate cash and cash available in the Cash Pool first, and then access our borrowing facilities. We expect our working capital requirements to increase if demand for our services increases.

At year-end 2023, we had $200.0 million of available capacity on our $200.0 million revolving credit facility and $100.6 million of available capacity on our $150.0 million securitization facility. The securitization facility carried no short-term borrowings and $49.4 million of standby letters of credit related to workers’ compensation. Together, the revolving credit and securitization facilities provide the Company with committed funding capacity that may be used for general corporate purposes subject to financial covenants and restrictions. While we believe these facilities will cover our working capital needs over the short term, if economic conditions or operating results change significantly from our current expectations, we may need to seek additional sources of funds. Throughout 2023 and as of the 2023 year end, we met the debt covenants related to our revolving credit facility and securitization facility.

At year-end 2023, we had additional unsecured, uncommitted short-term local credit facilities totaling $11.5 million, under which we had no borrowings. Details of our debt facilities as of the 2023 year end are contained in the Debt footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

We repurchased $42.2 million of the Company's Class A common stock in fiscal 2023 pursuant to the $50.0 million share repurchase program, which was approved by the Company's board of directors in November 2022 and completed in August 2023.

On January 2, 2024, subsequent to the year ended 2023, the Company completed the sale of its EMEA staffing operations to Gi Group Holdings S.P.A. and received cash proceeds of $110.6 million. The foreign currency forward contract that the Company entered into on November 2, 2023 to manage the foreign currency risk associated with the transaction was settled on January 5, 2024. A total loss of $2.4 million was realized upon settlement. See the Subsequent Event footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more details.

We monitor the credit ratings of our banking partners on a regular basis and have regular discussions with them. Based on our reviews and communications, we believe the risk of one or more of our banks not being able to honor commitments is insignificant. We also review the ratings and holdings of our money market funds and other investment vehicles regularly to ensure high credit quality and access to our invested cash.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In this process, it is necessary for us to make certain assumptions and related estimates affecting the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the attached notes. Actual results can differ from assumed and estimated amounts.

Critical accounting estimates are those that we believe require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those estimates may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following estimates to be most critical in understanding the judgments involved in preparing our consolidated financial statements.

Workers’ Compensation

In the U.S., we have a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which we effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. There is no aggregate limitation on our per-accident exposure under these insurance and self-insurance programs. We establish accruals for workers’ compensation utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. We retain an independent consulting actuary to establish ultimate loss forecasts for the current and prior accident years of our insurance and self-insurance programs. The consulting actuary establishes loss development factors and loss rates, based on our historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of our ultimate claims liability. In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary may consider factors such as the nature, frequency and severity of the claims; reserving practices of our third party claims administrators; performance of our medical cost management and return to work programs; changes in our territory and business line mix; and current legal, economic and regulatory factors such as industry estimates of medical cost trends. Where appropriate, multiple generally accepted actuarial techniques are applied and tested in the course of preparing the loss forecast. We use the ultimate loss forecasts, as developed by the consulting actuary, to establish total expected program costs for each accident year by adding our estimates of non-loss costs such as claims handling fees and excess insurance premiums. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, we record a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount.

We evaluate the accrual quarterly and make adjustments as needed. The ultimate cost of these claims may be greater than or less than the established accrual. While we believe that the recorded amounts are reasonable, there can be no assurance that changes to our estimates will not occur due to limitations inherent in the estimation process. In the event we determine that a smaller or larger accrual is appropriate, we would record a credit or a charge to cost of services in the period in which we made such a determination. The accrual for workers’ compensation, net of related receivables which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet, was $43.6 million and $43.3 million at year-end 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Business Combinations

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, in which the purchase price is allocated for assets acquired and liabilities assumed and recorded at the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Management is required to make significant assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of the assets acquired, particularly intangible assets. Purchased intangible assets are primarily comprised of acquired trade names and customer relationships that are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. We utilize third-party valuation specialists to assist us in the determination of the fair value of the intangibles. The fair value of trade name intangibles is determined using the relief-from-royalty method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. The fair value of customer relationship intangibles is determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, profit margins and discount rates. Determining the useful lives of intangible assets also requires judgment and are inherently uncertain. There is a measurement period of up to one year in which to finalize the fair value determinations and preliminary fair value estimates may be revised if new information is obtained during this period.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is based on expected income and statutory tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Judgment is required in determining our income tax expense.

Our effective tax rate includes the impact of accruals and changes to accruals that we consider appropriate, as well as related interest and penalties. A number of years may lapse before a particular matter, for which we have or have not established an accrual, is audited and finally resolved. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, we believe that our accruals are appropriate under generally accepted accounting principles. Favorable or unfavorable adjustments of the accrual for any particular issue would be recognized as an increase or decrease to our income tax expense in the period of a change in facts and circumstances. Our current tax accruals are presented in income and other taxes in the consolidated balance sheet and long-term tax accruals are presented in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

Tax laws require items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items are reflected in the consolidated financial statements. As a result, the income tax expense reflected in our consolidated financial statements is different than the liability reported in our tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, which are not deductible or taxable on our tax return, and some are temporary differences, which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities. We establish valuation allowances for our deferred tax assets when the amount of expected future taxable income is not likely to support the use of the deduction or credit. Our net deferred tax asset is recorded using currently enacted tax laws, and may need to be adjusted in the event tax laws change.

The U.S. work opportunity credit is allowed for wages earned by employees in certain targeted groups. The actual amount of creditable wages in a particular period is estimated, since the credit is only available once an employee reaches a minimum employment period and the employee’s inclusion in a targeted group is certified by the applicable state. As these events often occur after the period the wages are earned, judgment is required in determining the amount of work opportunity credits accrued for in each period. We evaluate the accrual regularly throughout the year and make adjustments as needed.

Goodwill

We test goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. GAAP requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at a reporting unit level. For segments with a goodwill balance, we have determined that our reporting units are the same as our operating and reportable segments based on our organizational structure or one level below our operating segments (the component level).

We may first use a qualitative assessment ("step zero test") for the annual impairment test if we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value for one or more reporting units is greater than their carrying value. In conducting the qualitative assessment, we assess the totality of relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying value of the reporting unit. Such events and circumstances may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, entity-specific events and events affecting a reporting unit.

If we elect to forgo the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit, goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value ("step one test"). If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further testing is required. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference.

For the step one quantitative test, we determine the fair value of our reporting units using the income approach. Under the income approach, estimated fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated market participant weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit being measured. Estimated future cash flows are based on our internal projection model and reflects management’s outlook for the reporting units. Assumptions and estimates about future cash flows and discount rates are complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. Our analysis used significant assumptions by reporting unit, including: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Softworld during the second quarter of 2021 was allocated to the SET reportable segment and Softworld was deemed to be a separate reporting unit. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of PTS during the second quarter of 2022 was allocated to the Education reportable segment and PTS was deemed to be a separate reporting unit. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of RocketPower during the first quarter of 2022 was allocated to the OCG reportable segment and RocketPower was deemed to be a separate reporting unit, which was fully impaired by year-end 2022. See the Acquisitions and Dispositions footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

We completed our annual impairment test for all reporting units with goodwill in the fourth quarter for the fiscal year ended 2023. We performed a step one quantitative test for the Softworld and PTS reporting units. As a result of the quantitative assessment, we determined that the estimated fair value of the Softworld and PTS reporting units was more than its carrying value. Additionally, we performed a step zero qualitative analysis for the Education reporting unit to determine whether a further quantitative analysis was necessary and concluded that a step one quantitative analysis was not necessary. As a result of the quantitative and qualitative assessments, the Company determined goodwill was not impaired as of year-end 2023.

Our analysis used significant assumptions, including: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported financial results. Different assumptions of the anticipated future results and growth from our business could result in an impairment charge, which would decrease operating income and result in lower asset values on our consolidated balance sheet. As a measure of sensitivity of the fair value for the Softworld and PTS reporting units, while holding all other assumptions constant, an increase in the discount rate of 100 basis points or a decrease of 100 basis points in the revenue growth rate assumptions for each forecasted period used to determine the fair value of both reporting units would not result in an impairment of goodwill. The estimated fair value of the PTS reporting unit exceeds the carrying value by more than 10%. The estimated fair value of the Softworld reporting unit exceeds the carrying value by less than 10%. If current expectations of future revenue and profit margins are not met, or if market factors outside of our control change significantly, including discount rate, and other market factors, then the goodwill of the Softworld reporting unit may be impaired in the future, resulting in goodwill impairment charges.

We completed our annual impairment test for all reporting units with goodwill in the fourth quarter for the fiscal year ended 2022. We performed a step one quantitative test for the Softworld and PTS reporting units. As a result of the quantitative assessment, we determined that the estimated fair value of the Softworld and PTS reporting units was more than its carrying value. Additionally, we performed a step zero qualitative analysis for the Education and RocketPower reporting units to determine whether a further quantitative analysis was necessary and concluded that a step one quantitative analysis was not necessary at that time. As a result of the quantitative and qualitative assessments, the Company determined goodwill related to these reporting units was not impaired at that time.

During 2022, customers within the high-tech industry vertical, in which RocketPower specializes, reduced or eliminated their full-time hiring, reducing demand for RocketPower's services, and on-going economic uncertainty had more broadly impacted the growth in demand for RPO in the near-term. These changes in market conditions therefore caused a triggering event requiring an interim impairment test for goodwill as of the third quarter of 2022. Job eliminations in the high-tech industry vertical continued during the fourth quarter of 2022, indicating a broad, sustained reduction in hiring was likely and was expected to last through much of 2023, directly impacting RocketPower and the demand for RocketPower's services in this vertical. These changes in market conditions caused another triggering event requiring an interim impairment test for goodwill as of year-end 2022.

We performed an interim step one quantitative test for RocketPower’s goodwill and determined that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit no longer exceeded the carrying value as of third quarter-end and year-end 2022. Based on the result of our interim goodwill impairment test, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $30.7 million in the third quarter of 2022 and we recorded an additional goodwill impairment charge of $10.3 million to write off the remaining balance of RocketPower’s goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2022, for a total goodwill impairment charge of $41.0 million as of year-end 2022.

At year-end 2023 and 2022, total goodwill amounted to $151.1 million for each year. See the Goodwill and Intangible Assets footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

Litigation

Kelly is subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims arising out of the normal course of business. Kelly routinely assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of the accruals required, if any, for these contingencies is made after analysis of each known issue. Development of the analysis includes consideration of many factors including: potential exposure, the status of proceedings, negotiations, discussions with our outside counsel and results of similar litigation. The required accruals may change in the future due to new developments in each matter. For further discussion, see the Contingencies footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. At year-end 2023 and 2022, the gross accrual for litigation costs amounted to $6.4 million, of which $1.5 million is held for sale, and $2.3 million, respectively, which is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and in accrued workers’ compensation and other claims in the consolidated balance sheet. See the Held for Sale footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See New Accounting Pronouncements footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements presented in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a description of new accounting pronouncements.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this report and in our investor conference call related to these results are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws and regulations. Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or which include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions by us that may be provided by management, including oral statements or other written materials released to the public, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our Company and economic and market factors in the countries in which we do business, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we have no specific intention to update these statements.

Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. The principal important risk factors that could cause our actual performance and future events and actions to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (i) changing market and economic conditions, (ii) disruption in the labor market and weakened demand for human capital resulting from technological advances, loss of large corporate customers and government contractor requirements, (iii) the impact of laws and regulations (including federal, state and international tax laws), (iv) unexpected changes in claim trends on workers’ compensation, unemployment, disability and medical benefit plans, (v) litigation and other legal liabilities (including tax liabilities) in excess of our estimates, (vi) our ability to achieve our business's anticipated growth strategies, (vii) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition, (viii) damage to our brands, (ix) dependency on third parties for the execution of critical functions, (x) conducting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency fluctuations, (xi) availability of temporary workers with appropriate skills required by customers, (xii) cyberattacks or other breaches of network or information technology security, and (xiii) other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements contained herein, and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations. Certain risk factors are discussed more fully under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this report.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

We are exposed to foreign currency risk primarily related to our foreign subsidiaries. Exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar value of our reported earnings, our investments in and held by subsidiaries, local currency denominated borrowings and intercompany transactions with and between subsidiaries. Our foreign subsidiaries primarily derive revenues and incur expenses within a single country and currency which, as a result, provide a natural hedge against currency risks in connection with normal business operations. Accordingly, changes in foreign currency rates vs. the U.S. dollar, euro or Swiss franc generally do not impact local cash flows. Intercompany transactions which create transactional foreign currency risk include services, royalties, loans, contributions and distributions.

On November 2, 2023, the Company entered into a foreign currency forward contract with a notional amount of €90 million to manage the foreign currency risk associated with the sale of our EMEA staffing operations, which was completed in the first quarter of 2024. This contract is not designated as a hedging instrument; therefore, it is marked-to-market and the changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. A total loss of $2.4 million was realized upon settlement on January 5, 2024. An unrealized loss of $3.6 million associated with the forward contract was recorded as of December 31, 2023; therefore, the Company will record a gain of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.

In addition, we are exposed to interest rate risks through our use of the multi-currency line of credit and other borrowings. A hypothetical fluctuation of 10% of market interest rates would not have had a material impact on 2023 earnings.

We are exposed to market risk as a result of our obligation to pay benefits under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan and our related investments in company-owned variable universal life insurance policies. The obligation to employees increases and decreases based on movements in the equity and debt markets. The investments in mutual funds, as part of the company-owned variable universal life insurance policies, are designed to mitigate, but not eliminate, this risk with offsetting gains and losses.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

The financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item are set forth in the accompanying index on page 43 of this filing and are presented in pages 44-98.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is presented preceding the consolidated financial statements on page 44 of this report.

Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, as stated in their report which appears herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

Securities Trading Plans of Directors and Executive Officers

During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company's directors or executive officers adopted, modified or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any "non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement."

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

Not applicable.

PART III

Information required by Part III with respect to Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance (Item 10), Executive Compensation (Item 11), Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters (Item 12), Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence (Item 13) and Principal Accounting Fees and Services (Item 14), except as set forth under the titles “Executive Officers of the Registrant,” which is included on pages 39-40, and “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” which is included on page 41, (Item 10), and except as set forth under the title “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” which is included on page 41, (Item 12), is to be included in a definitive proxy statement filed not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year and the proxy statement, when filed, is incorporated in this report by reference.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

The following individuals serve as executive officers of the Company as of December 31, 2023:

(1) In conjunction with the completion of the sale of our EMEA staffing operations and a transition period, Ms. Koolhaas will depart the Company on March 31, 2024.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT (continued)

Name/Office Age Served as anOfficer Since Business ExperienceDuring Last 5 Years

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS.

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is included as Exhibit 14 in the Index to Exhibits on page 99. We have posted our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our website at www.kellyservices.com. We intend to post any changes in or waivers from our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to any of these officers on our website.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table shows the number of shares of our Class A common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights, and the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under our equity compensation plans as of the fiscal year end for 2023.

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(3) — — —

(1)The equity compensation plan approved by our stockholders is our Equity Incentive Plan.

(2)The Fixed Share provision applies to shares granted on and after May 10, 2017, and the amended Equity Incentive Plan provides that the maximum number of shares available for grants is 4,700,000.

The number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Fixed Share provision excludes: 784,132 shares of restricted stock; performance shares that have been earned but not yet vested totaling 115,182 financial measure performance awards, and 47,752 single financial measure performance awards; and performance shares granted to employees and not yet earned or vested totaling 876,363 shares of financial measure performance awards, calculated using an assumed maximum award performance level of 200%, where applicable, at December 31, 2023.

(3)The Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is an equity compensation plan that has not been approved by our stockholders. This plan provides non-employee directors with the opportunity to defer all or a portion of the fees they receive. Participants may elect to have director fees that are paid in either cash or common stock, deferred into the plan. Participants choose from a list of investment funds as determined by the Company for their deferrals of cash. Deferrals of common stock must remain in common stock. Amounts deferred under the plan are subject to applicable tax withholding. The plan is intended to be a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Shares acquired by participants in this plan will be issued from the share reserve stated in the Equity Incentive Plan.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:

(i)Financial statements:

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238)

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2023

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2023

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2023

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2023

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(ii)Financial Statement Schedule -

For the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2023:

Schedule II - Valuation Reserves

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

(iii)The Exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits included beginning at page 99, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)The Index to Exhibits and required Exhibits are included following the Financial Statement Schedule beginning at page 99 of this filing.

(c)None.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

None.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

Page Referencein Report onForm 10-K

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 44

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 45

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 50

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 55

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Kelly Services, Inc. (the “Company”), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

•Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

•Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

•Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may change.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

Based on our assessment, management determined that, as of December 31, 2023, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears on pages 45-47.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Kelly Services, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kelly Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, January 1, 2023, and January 2, 2022 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the

company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Goodwill Impairment Assessment – Softworld Reporting Unit

As described in Notes 1 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s goodwill balance was $151.1 million as of December 31, 2023, of which a majority of the goodwill related to the Softworld reporting unit. Management performs the annual goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter each year and regularly assesses whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. In the fourth quarter of 2023, management performed the annual goodwill impairment testing, which included a step one quantitative test for the Softworld reporting unit. As part of the quantitative test, the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value and if the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference. Fair value of the reporting units is estimated by management using the income approach whereby the estimated fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated market participant weighted-average cost of capital. Management’s estimated future cash flows included significant assumptions related to expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins, and discount rate. As a result of the quantitative assessment, management determined that the estimated fair value of the Softworld reporting unit was more than its carrying value.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment of the Softworld reporting unit is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the Softworld reporting unit; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins, and discount rate; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s goodwill impairment assessment. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the Softworld reporting unit; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the income approach used by management; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the income approach; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins, and discount rate. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to expected future revenue growth rates and profit margins involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the Softworld reporting unit; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether the assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the income approach and (ii) the reasonableness of the discount rate assumption.

Workers’ Compensation

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, in the U.S., the Company has a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which they effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. Management establishes the accrual for workers’ compensation claims utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. Management retains an independent consulting actuary to establish loss development factors and loss rates, based on historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of the

ultimate claims liability. In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary considers a number of assumptions and multiple generally accepted actuarial methods in the course of preparing the loss forecast for claims. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, management records a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount. Management evaluates the accrual quarterly throughout the year and makes adjustments as needed. As disclosed by management, as of December 31, 2023, the accrual for accrued workers’ compensation, net of related receivables, is $43.6 million.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to workers’ compensation is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the actuarial methods and the significant assumptions to use in establishing the accrual for workers’ compensation claims; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s actuarial methods and significant assumptions related to the loss development factors and loss rates; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s accrual for workers’ compensation claims, including controls over the actuarial methods and development of significant assumptions. These procedures also included, among others (i) the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in developing an independent estimate for the accrual for workers’ compensation claims and (ii) comparing the independent estimate to management’s estimate to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimate. Developing the independent estimate involved (i) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data provided by management and (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of management’s actuarial methods and the reasonableness of the significant assumptions related to the loss development factors and loss rates by independently developing the loss development factors and loss rates.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 20, 2024

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1960.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In millions of dollars except per share items)

Selling, general and administrative expenses 934.7 943.5 870.6

Asset impairment charge 2.4 — —

Goodwill impairment charge — 41.0 —

Gain on sale of assets — (6.2) —

Loss on disposal — 18.7 —

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings — (67.2) 121.8

Gain on insurance settlement — — 19.0

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary — (20.4) —

Unrealized loss on forward contract (3.6) — —

Other income (expense), net 4.2 1.6 (3.6)

Income tax expense (benefit) (11.5) (7.9) 35.1

Net earnings (loss) before equity in net earnings of affiliate 36.4 (63.3) 150.7

Equity in net earnings of affiliate — 0.8 5.4

Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.99 $ (1.64) $ 3.93

Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.98 $ (1.64) $ 3.91

Average shares outstanding (millions):

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions of dollars)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments 8.0 17.6 (24.2)

Less: Reclassification adjustments included in net earnings 0.1 0.1 0.2

Pension liability adjustments 0.7 1.6 0.7

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 8.7 19.2 (23.5)

Comprehensive income (loss) $ 45.1 $ (43.3) $ 132.6

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Assets

Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 48.9 69.9

Assets held for sale 291.3 —

Noncurrent Assets

Property and equipment:

Net property and equipment 24.6 27.8

Operating lease right-of-use assets 47.1 66.8

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current Liabilities

Short-term borrowings $ — $ 0.7

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 646.1 723.3

Operating lease liabilities 8.4 14.7

Accrued payroll and related taxes 156.2 315.8

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 22.1 22.9

Income and other taxes 17.2 51.4

Liabilities held for sale 169.9 —

Noncurrent Liabilities

Operating lease liabilities 42.9 55.0

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 40.9 40.7

Other long-term liabilities 6.8 11.0

Commitments and contingencies (See Commitments and Contingencies footnotes)

Stockholders' Equity

Capital stock, $1.00 par value

Treasury stock, at cost

Class B common stock (0.6) (0.6)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 0.2 (8.5)

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 2,581.6 $ 2,663.8

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In millions of dollars)

Capital Stock

Class A common stock

Balance at beginning of year $ 35.1 $ 36.7 $ 36.7

Conversions from Class B 0.1 — —

Share retirement — (1.6) —

Class B common stock

Balance at beginning of year 3.4 3.4 3.4

Conversions to Class A (0.1) — —

Balance at end of year 3.3 3.4 3.4

Treasury Stock

Class A common stock

Balance at beginning of year (19.5) (14.5) (16.5)

Net issuance of stock awards and other 5.0 2.8 2.0

Purchase of treasury stock (42.2) (7.8) —

Class B common stock

Balance at beginning of year (0.6) (0.6) (0.6)

Net issuance of stock awards — — —

Balance at end of year (0.6) (0.6) (0.6)

Paid-in Capital

Net issuance of stock awards 2.6 4.1 2.6

Earnings Invested in the Business

Share retirement — (25.6) —

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at beginning of year (8.5) (27.7) (4.2)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 8.7 19.2 (23.5)

Balance at end of year 0.2 (8.5) (27.7)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions of dollars)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

Asset impairment charge 2.4 — —

Goodwill impairment charge — 41.0 —

Loss on disposal — 18.7 —

Operating lease asset amortization 16.2 18.5 21.2

Provision for credit losses and sales allowances 1.6 1.5 1.6

Stock-based compensation 9.7 7.8 5.1

Gain on sale of equity securities (2.0) — —

Unrealized loss on forward contract 3.6 — —

(Gain) loss on investment in Persol Holdings — 67.2 (121.8)

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary — 20.4 —

Gain on foreign currency remeasurement — (5.5) —

Gain on insurance settlement — — (19.0)

Gain on sale of assets — (6.2) —

Equity in net earnings of PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. — (0.8) (5.4)

Net cash from (used in) operating activities 76.7 (76.3) 85.0

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from sale of assets — 10.1 —

Acquisition of companies, net of cash received — (143.1) (213.0)

Cash disposed from sale of Russia, net of proceeds — (6.0) —

Proceeds from sale of Persol Holdings investment — 196.9 —

Proceeds from sale of equity method investment — 119.5 —

Proceeds from company-owned life insurance — 1.5 12.2

Proceeds from insurance settlement — — 19.0

Proceeds from loans to equity affiliate — — 5.9

Proceeds from equity securities 2.0 — 5.0

Other investing activities (0.8) 0.6 1.4

Net cash (used in) from investing activities (14.1) 167.5 (180.7)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net change in short-term borrowings (0.7) 0.8 (0.2)

Financing lease payments (1.2) (1.4) (1.5)

Payments of tax withholding for stock awards (1.8) (0.9) (0.6)

Buyback of common shares — (27.2) —

Purchase of treasury stock (42.2) (7.8) —

Contingent consideration payments (2.5) (3.3) (1.6)

Other financing activities (0.2) (0.2) (0.2)

Net cash used in financing activities (59.6) (50.6) (8.1)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 5.2 42.9 (108.6)

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

(1) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the amounts reported in our consolidated balance sheet:

(In millions of dollars)

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:

Current assets:

Cash included in assets held for sale 33.5 — —

Noncurrent assets:

Restricted cash included in other assets 8.0 8.6 6.6

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations Kelly Services, Inc. is a specialty talent and workforce solutions provider operating throughout the world.

Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. The three most recent years ended on December 31, 2023 (2023), January 1, 2023 (2022) and January 2, 2022 (2021), all of which contained 52 weeks. Period costs included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses are recorded on a calendar-year basis. The Company’s equity method investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. was accounted for on a one-quarter lag prior to the sale of the majority of the investment in the first quarter of 2022 (see Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. footnote). Any material transactions in the intervening period were disclosed or accounted for in the current reporting period.

Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated with the exception of certain amounts owed between entities within the Company that will be considered third-party receivables and payables after the completion of the sale of our EMEA staffing operations. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Investment in Persol Holdings The Company’s previous investment in Persol Holdings, as further described in the Investment in Persol Holdings footnote, was carried at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. The fair value of the investment was based on the quoted market price until the sale of the investment in the first quarter of 2022.

Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. The Company had a 49% ownership interest in its equity affiliate, PersolKelly Pte. Ltd., which was accounted for under the equity method. The operating results of the equity affiliate were recorded on a one-quarter lag and included in equity in net earnings of affiliate in the consolidated statements of earnings, until the Company sold the majority of the investment in the first quarter of 2022 (see Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. footnote). The remaining investment is accounted for as an equity investment without a readily determinable fair value (see Fair Value Measurements footnote).

Foreign Currency Translation All of the Company’s international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency, which is the currency in which they transact the majority of their activities. Revenue and expense accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at average exchange rates, while assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments, net of tax, where applicable, are reported as accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments in stockholders’ equity and are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Foreign Currency Forward Contract The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations and enters into foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments to reduce the exposure to variability in certain expected future cash flows (see Fair Value Measurements footnote). The Company records these non-designated derivatives at mark-to-market with gains and losses recognized in unrealized loss on forward contract on the consolidated statements of earnings. We are permitted to net the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes, if such assets and liabilities are with the same counterparty and subject to a master netting arrangement. Since these conditions have been met we elected to employ net presentation of derivative assets and liabilities.

Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. Our revenues are recorded net of any sales, value added, or similar taxes collected from our customers. We generate revenue from: the hourly sales of services by our temporary employees to customers (“staffing services” revenue), the recruiting of permanent employees for our customers (“permanent placement” revenue), and through our talent fulfillment and outcome-based activities (“talent solutions” and “outcome-based services” revenue).

We record revenues from sales of services and the related direct costs in accordance with the accounting guidance on reporting revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent. When Kelly is the principal, we demonstrate control over the service by being primarily responsible to our customers for fulfilling the contractual promise to provide the service. When Kelly does not demonstrate control over the service, which may be evident through the arrangement of other contingent labor suppliers and/or service providers to perform services for the customer or by Kelly not holding primary responsibility for the fulfillment of the contractual promise to provide services to the customer, the amounts billed to our customers are net of the amounts paid to the secondary suppliers/service providers and the net amount is recorded as revenues.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Staffing Services Revenue

Staffing services contracts are generally negotiated and invoiced on a per-hour or per-unit basis as the temporary staffing services are transferred to the customer. Revenue from the majority of our staffing services continues to be recognized over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. We have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

Permanent Placement Revenue

Permanent placement revenue is recorded at the point in time the permanent placement candidate begins full-time employment. On the candidate start date, the customer accepts the candidate and can direct the use of the candidate as well as obtains the significant risk and rewards of the candidate. We consider this the point the control transfers to the customer.

Outcome-Based Services Revenue

Billings are generally negotiated and invoiced on a measure of time (hours, weeks, months) or per-unit basis for our services performed. We continue to recognize revenue from the majority of our outcome-based services over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. For the majority of our outcome-based services, we have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

Talent Solutions Revenue

Talent Solutions services include: overall program management of our client’s contingent workforce, external vendors and/or independent contractors, end-to-end talent acquisition, and payroll outsourcing. Billings are generally negotiated and invoiced as a fee-based commission contingent on the amount of services managed through the program, a monthly management fee, measure of time (hours), or a per-unit basis for our services performed. We continue to recognize revenue for talent solution services over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. We have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

Variable Consideration

Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as a form of variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected or likely amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenues recognized to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of such adjustment will not occur. Provisions for sales allowances (billing adjustments related to errors, service issues and compromises on billing disputes), based on historical experience, are recognized at the time the related sale is recognized as a reduction in revenue from services.

Payment Terms

Customer payments are typically due within 60 days of invoicing, but may be shorter or longer depending on contract terms. Management does not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is that the period between payment by the customer and the transfer of the services to the customer will be less than one year. We do not have any significant financing components or extended payment terms.

Deferred Revenue

Items which are billed to the customer at a point in time, rather than billed over time as the services are delivered to the customer, are assessed for potential revenue deferral. At this time, the balance of the contract liability as well as the amount of revenue recognized in the reporting period that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period is not material.

Deferred Costs

Occasionally, fulfillment costs are incurred after obtaining a contract in order to generate a resource that will be used to provide our services. These costs are considered incremental and recoverable costs to fulfill our contract with the customer. These costs to fulfill a contract are deferred and then amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of benefit that we have determined to be the average length of assignment of the employees. We determined the period of benefit by taking into consideration our customer contracts, attrition rates and other relevant factors. Amortization expense is included in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Unsatisfied Performance Obligations

The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Trade Accounts Receivable The Company records an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, billed and unbilled, based on historical loss experience, customer payment patterns, current economic trends, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable. The reserve for sales allowances is also included in the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable. The Company estimates the current expected credit losses by applying internally developed loss rates to all outstanding receivable balances by aging category. Accounts receivable are written-off against the allowance when they are deemed uncollectible. The Company reviews the adequacy of the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable on a quarterly basis and, if necessary, increases or decreases the balance by recording a charge or credit to SG&A expenses for the portion of the adjustment relating to uncollectible accounts receivable, and a charge or credit to revenue from services for the portion of the adjustment relating to sales allowances.

We are exposed to credit losses primarily through our sales of workforce solution services to customers. We establish an allowance for estimated credit losses in the current period resulting from the failure of our customers to make required payments on their trade accounts receivable in future periods. We pool such assets by geography and other similar risk characteristics, such as accounts in collection, and apply an aging method to estimate future credit losses utilizing inputs such as historical write-off experience, customer payment patterns, current collection data, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to short payment terms. The Company also performs ongoing credit evaluations using applicable credit ratings of its customers to help analyze credit risk. We monitor ongoing credit exposure through frequent review of past due accounts (based on the payment terms of the contract) and follow-up with customers, as appropriate.We may employ collection agencies and legal counsel to pursue recovery of defaulted receivables.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Other Financial Assets The Company measures expected credit losses on qualified financial assets that do not result from revenue transactions using a probability of default method by type of financing receivable. The estimate of expected credit losses considers credit ratings, financial data, historical write-off experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable, to estimate the risk of loss.

Cost of Services Cost of services are those costs directly associated with the earning of revenue. The primary examples of these types of costs are temporary employee wages, along with other employee related costs, including associated payroll taxes, temporary employee benefits, such as service bonus and holiday pay and health insurance, and workers’ compensation costs. These costs differ fundamentally from SG&A expenses in that they arise specifically from the action of providing our services to customers whereas SG&A costs are incurred regardless of whether or not we place temporary employees with our customers.

Advertising Expenses Advertising expenses, which are expensed as incurred and are included in SG&A expenses, were $7.8 million in 2023, $6.4 million in 2022 and $7.5 million in 2021.

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable and credit losses, workers’ compensation, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, valuation of acquired intangibles, litigation costs and income taxes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Equivalents Cash and equivalents are stated at fair value. The Company considers securities with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and equivalents.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Cost and estimated useful lives of property and equipment by function are as follows (in millions of dollars):

Land $ — $ — —

Work in process 6.7 3.0 —

Buildings and improvements 0.4 0.4 30 years

Computer hardware and software 123.1 126.8 3 to 12 years

Equipment, furniture and fixtures 22.6 22.7 5 years

Leasehold improvements 13.1 13.9 HQ: 15 years

Branches: Lesser of the lease or 5 years

Total property and equipment $ 165.9 $ 166.8

The property and equipment at cost in the table above includes $27.8 million of assets held for sale (see Held for Sale footnote). The Company capitalizes external costs and internal payroll costs directly incurred in the development of software for internal use as required by the Internal-Use Software Subtopic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Work in process represents capitalized costs for internal-use software not yet in service. Depreciation expense was $12.4 million for 2023, $13.6 million for 2022 and $16.4 million for 2021.

Cloud Computing Arrangements The Company has cloud computing arrangements that are comprised of internal-use software platforms that are accounted for as service contracts. The Company does not have the ability to take possession of the software without significant penalty nor can the Company run the software on its own hardware or contract with another party unrelated to the vendor to host the software. Implementation costs associated with these cloud computing arrangements are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis and is a component of SG&A expenses in our consolidated statements of earnings.

Amortization expense was $6.9 million for 2023, $4.2 million for 2022, and $2.2 million for 2021. The related accumulated amortization totaled $14.2 million in 2023 and $7.3 million in 2022. As of year-end 2023, $2.3 million of the $14.2 million of accumulated amortization is held for sale. Capitalized amounts related to such arrangements are recorded within prepaid and other current assets and non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. As of year-end 2023 and 2022, the Company had $4.9 million, of which $0.1 million is held for sale, and $2.7 million, respectively, recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and $27.3 million, of which $3.4 million is held for sale, and $21.0 million, respectively, recorded in non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheet related to capitalized cloud computing arrangements (see Other Assets and Held for Sale footnotes).

Leases Right-of-use("ROU") assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Since most of the Company’s leases do not have an implicit borrowing rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Our leases may include options allowing us in our sole discretion to extend or terminate the lease, and when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise those options, we will include those periods in our lease term. Variable costs, such as payments for insurance and tax payments, are expensed when the obligation for those payments is incurred.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the acquisition date fair value of net assets acquired. Purchased intangible assets are primarily comprised of acquired trade names and customer relationships that are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The fair value of trade name intangibles is determined using the relief-from-royalty method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. The fair value of customer relationship intangibles is determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, profit margins and discount rates.

Purchased intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their respective useful lives (from 5 to 15 years) on a straight-line basis.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Equity Method Investmentsand Equity Securities The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When estimated undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the asset group, in which the long-lived asset being tested for impairment resides, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell.

We test goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. Generally accepted accounting principles require that goodwill be tested for impairment at a reporting unit level. For segments with a goodwill balance, we have determined that our reporting units are the same as our operating and reportable segments based on our organizational structure or one level below our operating segments (the component level).

We may first use a qualitative assessment ("step zero test") for the annual impairment test if we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value for one or more reporting units is greater than their carrying value. The step zero test includes making judgments and assessments to determine whether any events or circumstances have occurred that makes it more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In conducting the qualitative assessment, we assess the totality of relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying value of the reporting unit. Such events and circumstances may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, entity-specific events and events affecting a reporting unit.

For the step one quantitative test, we determine the fair value of our reporting units using the income approach. Under the income approach, estimated fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated market participant weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit being measured. Estimated future cash flows are based on our internal projection model and reflects management’s outlook for the reporting unit. Assumptions and estimates about future cash flows and discount rates are complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. Our analysis used the following significant assumptions: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

Prior to the sale of the majority of our investment in our equity affiliate, we evaluated our equity method investment on a quarterly basis or whenever events or circumstances indicated the carrying amount may be other-than-temporarily impaired. If we had concluded that there was an other-than-temporary impairment of our equity method investment, we would have adjusted our carrying amount of our investment to the adjusted fair value.

We evaluate our equity securities measured under the measurement alternative for indicators of impairment on a quarterly basis and whenever observable price changes occur. The measurement alternative represents cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes. Quarterly, we also confirm the securities still qualify to be measured in accordance with the measurement alternative. The value of the securities will be adjusted for any increases or decreases as a result of an observable price change.

Accounts Payable Included in accounts payable balances are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $1.2 million and $0.4 million at year-end 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Accrued Payroll and Related Taxes Included in current accrued payroll and related taxes are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $9.6 million and $67.6 million at year-end 2023 and 2022, respectively. Payroll taxes for temporary employees are recognized proportionately to direct wages for interim periods based on expected full-year amounts.

Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Uncertain tax positions that are taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Interest and penalties related to income taxes are classified as income tax expense. U.S. taxes on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) are accounted for as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation The Company may grant restricted stock awards and units (collectively, “restricted stock”) and performance awards of the Company's Class A stock to key employees. The Company utilizes the market price on the date of grant as the fair value for restricted stock and the market price on the date of grant less the present value of the expected dividends not received during the vesting period for performance awards. The value of awards is recognized as expense, net of forfeitures as they occur, over the requisite service periods in SG&A expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings.

Earnings Per Share Restricted stock that entitle their holders to receive nonforfeitable dividends before vesting are considered participating securities and, therefore, are included in the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, earnings from continuing operations (or net earnings) is reduced by the amount of dividends declared, and the remaining undistributed earnings is allocated to common stock and participating securities based on the proportion of each class’s weighted average shares outstanding to the total weighted average shares outstanding. The calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the effect of potential common shares outstanding in the average weighted shares outstanding.

Workers’ Compensation In the U.S., the Company has a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which we effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. The Company establishes accruals for workers’ compensation claims utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. The Company retains an independent consulting actuary to establish loss development factors and loss rates, based on historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of the ultimate claims liability.

In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary considers a number of assumptions and multiple generally accepted actuarial methods in the course of preparing the loss forecast for claims. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, the Company records a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount. The receivable is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet at year end. The Company evaluates the accrual quarterly throughout the year and makes adjustments as needed, and the ultimate cost of these claims may be greater than or less than the established accrual.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

2. Revenue

Revenue Disaggregated by Service Type

Kelly has five operating segments: Professional & Industrial (“P&I”), Science, Engineering & Technology (“SET”), Education, Outsourcing & Consulting Group ("Outsourcing & Consulting," "OCG") and International. Other than OCG, each segment delivers talent through staffing services, permanent placement or outcome-based services. Our OCG segment delivers talent solutions including managed service provider ("MSP"), payroll process outsourcing ("PPO"), recruitment process outsourcing ("RPO"), and talent advisory services. International also delivers RPO talent solutions within its local markets.

The following table presents our segment revenues disaggregated by service type (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Professional & Industrial

Science, Engineering & Technology

Education

Permanent placement 7.0 8.4 5.0

Outsourcing & Consulting

International

Total Intersegment (19.6) (2.6) (0.9)

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Revenue Disaggregated by Geography

Our operations are subject to different economic and regulatory environments depending on geographic location. Our P&I and Education segments operate in the Americas region, our SET segment operates in the Americas and Europe regions, and OCG operates in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. The International segment includes Europe and Mexico operations, which are included in the Americas region. Our Russian operations were sold in the third quarter of 2022 (see Acquisitions and Dispositions footnote).

The below table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Americas

Europe

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

The below table presents our SET, OCG and International segment revenues disaggregated by geographic region (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Science, Engineering & Technology

Outsourcing & Consulting

International

Deferred Costs

Deferred fulfillment costs, which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet, were $3.4 million as of year-end 2023 and $2.7 million as of 2022. Amortization expense for the deferred costs was $7.7 million for 2023, $10.1 million for 2022 and $20.5 million for 2021. As of year-end 2023, there was no impairment loss in relation to the costs capitalized.

3. Credit Losses

The rollforward of our allowance for credit losses related to trade accounts receivable, which is recorded in trade accounts receivable, less allowance in the consolidated balance sheet, is as follows (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Allowance for credit losses:

Beginning balance $ 7.7 $ 9.4 $ 9.8

Current period provision 2.1 1.3 1.3

Currency exchange effects 0.3 (0.2) (0.5)

Ending balance $ 8.0 $ 7.7 $ 9.4

Write-offs are presented net of recoveries, which were not material for December year to date 2023, 2022 and 2021.

We were engaged in litigation with a customer over a disputed accounts receivable balance for certain services rendered more than five years ago, which had been recorded as a long-term receivable in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. In September 2021, a final ruling in the case was entered in favor of the customer. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we wrote off the entire receivable balance with this customer, including $0.6 million not previously reserved. The unreserved portion was recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings. The rollforward of our allowance for credit losses related to the long-term customer receivable, which was recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet, is as follows (in millions of dollars):

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

December Year to Date

Allowance for credit losses:

Beginning balance $ 10.9

Current period provision 0.6

Write-offs (11.5)

Ending Balance $ —

There were no long-term customer receivables in 2023 or 2022. No allowances related to other receivables were material for December year to date 2023, 2022 and 2021.

4. Acquisitions and Disposition

Acquisitions

In the second quarter of 2022, Kelly Services USA, LLC ("KSU"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired Pediatric Therapeutic Services ("PTS"), as detailed below. In the first quarter of 2022, the Company acquired Rocket Power Holdings LLC and Rocket Power Ops LLC (collectively, "RocketPower"), as detailed below. In the second quarter of 2021, the Company acquired Softworld, Inc. ("Softworld"), as detailed below.

Pediatric Therapeutic Services

On May 2, 2022, KSU acquired 100% of the membership interests of PTS for a purchase price of $82.1 million. PTS is a specialty firm that provides and manages various state and federally mandated in-school therapy services. This acquisition expands Education's K-12 solution offering in the education staffing market and serves as an entry point into the therapeutic services market. Under terms of the purchase agreement, the purchase price was adjusted for cash held by PTS at the closing date and estimated working capital adjustments resulting in the Company paying cash of $85.7 million. Total consideration included $1.1 million of additional consideration that was payable to the seller related to employee retention credits and was recorded in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. In the third quarter of 2022, the Company paid $0.1 million of the employee retention credits and the remaining $1.0 million was paid in the second quarter of 2023. There is no remaining liability related to the additional consideration as of year-end 2023. The total consideration was as follows (in millions of dollars):

Cash consideration paid $ 85.7

Additional consideration payable 1.1

Total consideration $ 86.8

KELYA US Equity

KELYA · 10-K · period ended 2023-12-31

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

KELYA US Equity☆

KELYA · 10-K · period ended 2023-12-31

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

KELYA US Equity