<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.3.5

                                 [Westaff Logo]

                               EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT


This Employment Contract is entered into by and between WESTAFF SUPPORT, INC.
("Westaff") and DIRK A. SODESTROM ("you") effective as of the date stated in
Paragraph 1 below.

Westaff hereby agrees to continue your employment and you agree to continue your
employment with Westaff upon the following terms and conditions:

1.   DURATION. Your position as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
     Officer shall start as of January 1, 2001 and shall continue thereafter
     until terminated by either party. Westaff will give you six (6) months
     advance notice of termination. However, Westaff will not be obligated to
     give you such advance notice if:

         a.       You are a part-time employee; or

         b.       You accept an offer of employment with a business competitive
                  to Westaff; or

         c.       You are terminated for misconduct, violation of this Contract
                  or violation of Westaff's policies or rules as set forth in
                  Westaff's Employee Handbook or otherwise made known to you.

2.   TERMINABLE-AT-WILL. You are a "terminable-at-will" employee. You may resign
     at any time with or without a reason. Likewise, Westaff may dismiss you at
     any time with or without cause. You acknowledge that there are no other
     express or implied agreements between you and Westaff for any specific
     period of employment, or for continuing or long-term employment.

3.   PAY. You will be paid a beginning salary of Two Hundred Thirty-Five
     Thousand Dollars ($235,000) per year. Your pay may be revised without
     impairing the effectiveness of any other provisions of this Contract. Your
     pay will be paid in equal installments every two weeks. Each pay period is
     distinct and severable and your employment for part of a pay period or part
     of a year will not entitle you to pay for more than the time you actually
     worked. In the event your employment terminates during a pay period, your
     pay will be prorated to the date of termination and will include earned
     vacation pay, if any.

4.   CONFIDENTIALITY. Westaff is a provider of staffing and employment
     services. You acknowledge that by virtue of your employment, you will
     become familiar with or have access to Westaff's valuable proprietary
     information, confidential data and trade secrets which include, but are not
     limited to, customers' and employees' names, addresses and telephone
     numbers, bill and pay rates, employees' pay and skills, ordering sources,
     statistical information, sales techniques, methods of operation,
     advertising materials, forms and operating manuals. As the misappropriation
     of such information, data or secrets would result in great damage or loss
     to Westaff, you agree not to use any of it for your own benefit and not to
     disclose it to, or allow the use of it by any person, firm or corporation,
     whether during your Westaff employment or thereafter.

5.   NON-DIVERSION. You agree that you will not, directly or indirectly, either
     for yourself or for any other person, firm or corporation solicit or
     attempt to divert any Westaff customer or recruit any Westaff employee
     during your Westaff employment and for a period of one year thereafter. For
     purposes of this paragraph, a Westaff customer is defined as any person,
     firm or corporation that Westaff has serviced within one year preceding the
     termination of your employment and with whom you have had contact on behalf
     of Westaff, and a Westaff employee is defined as any person who has
     received salary or wages from Westaff within one year preceding the
     termination of your employment.


<PAGE>

6.   NON-COMPETITITION. You agree to devote your best efforts to the
     performance of your Westaff duties and to perform no acts detrimental to
     Westaff's best interests. You will not engage in any other business or work
     for any person or entity during your Westaff workday. While employed by
     Westaff, you will not engage in any competitive staffing or employment
     services business. You further agree that you will not engage in a
     competitive staffing or employment services business, in a same or similar
     capacity in which you were employed by Westaff, for yourself or for any
     other person, firm or corporation, within a radius of twenty-five miles
     from the Westaff office(s) where you were working, for a period of one year
     after the termination of your Westaff employment.

7.   AUTHORITY. You shall have authority in the exercise of your good faith
     business judgment to enter into any contract or agreement or otherwise bind
     Westaff as an executive officer of Westaff.

8.   PROPERTY. Upon termination of your employment, you agree to immediately
     deliver to Westaff all equipment, supplies, keys, manuals, monies,
     overpayments, lists, records, resumes, diskettes or other material related
     to the business of Westaff and all Westaff property of whatever nature in
     your possession or control or which you may have entrusted to any other
     party.

9.   VIOLATION. You acknowledge that the obligations and restrictions set forth
     in this Contract are reasonably necessary for the protection of Westaff's
     business, goodwill, property, and customer and employee relationships. You
     recognize that irreparable damage will result to Westaff in the event of
     any violation of this Contract and you hereby agree to the issuance of a
     restraining order and/or an injunction against you for such a violation,
     in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies Westaff may have.

10.  ASSIGNMENT. Westaff's rights and/or duties under this Contract may be
     assigned or delegated to any successor of Westaff. However, you may assign
     none of your rights and/or duties under this Contract to any other party.

11.  MODIFICATION. The terms of this Contract may be amended, modified or
     replaced only by a subsequent written agreement signed by you and an
     authorized representative of Westaff.

12.  SEVERABILITY. Every provision of this Contract is distinct and
     severable. If any such portion is held to be illegal, unenforceable or
     void, it shall not affect the legality, enforceability or validity of any
     of the other provisions.

13.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT. You hereby acknowledge that you have read and
     understood this Contract. By signing below, you acknowledge receipt of a
     copy of this Contract and agree to abide by its terms and conditions.

EMPLOYEE:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>

/s/ DIRK A. SODESTROM                                         12/22/00
---------------------                                         --------
Dirk A. Sodestrom                                             Date

</TABLE>


WESTAFF SUPPORT, INC.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>

By: W. ROBERT STOVER                                          Location: Walnut Creek, California
    ----------------
    W. Robert Stover
    Chairman of the Board and interim President
    and Chief Executive Officer

</TABLE>