<PAGE>   1

                                                                      EXHIBIT 24




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of STAFF
BUILDERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes
and appoints David Savitsky or Stephen Savitsky, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Corporation's Annual
Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 1999, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, including without limitation on Form 8, with power where
appropriate to affix the corporate seal of the Corporation thereto and to attest
said seal, and to file such Form 10-K and each such amendment and supplement,
with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name as of the
29th day of April, 1999.


                                            /s/ JONATHAN J. HALPERT
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Jonathan J. Halpert,
                                            Director of the Corporation


<PAGE>   2


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of STAFF
BUILDERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes
and appoints David Savitsky or Stephen Savitsky, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Corporation's Annual
Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 1999, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, including without limitation on Form 8, with power where
appropriate to affix the corporate seal of the Corporation thereto and to attest
said seal, and to file such Form 10-K and each such amendment and supplement,
with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name as of the
29th day of April, 1999.


                                          /s/ BERNARD J. FIRESTONE
                                         ----------------------------
                                         Bernard J. Firestone,
                                         Director of the Corporation


<PAGE>   3


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director of STAFF
BUILDERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes
and appoints David Savitsky or Stephen Savitsky, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Corporation's Annual
Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 1999, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, including without limitation on Form 8, with power where
appropriate to affix the corporate seal of the Corporation thereto and to attest
said seal, and to file such Form 10-K and each such amendment and supplement,
with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name as of the
29th day of April, 1999.


                                              /s/ DONALD MEYERS
                                              ----------------------------
                                              Donald Meyers,
                                              Director of the Corporation