Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014 segment		Aug. 31, 2013		May 31, 2014
Disclosures related to operating segments
Number of Reportable Segments	3
Revenue	$ 1,102,077		$ 1,100,246
Income (loss) before income taxes	175,316		123,157
Total assets	4,556,270		4,311,177		4,462,452
Rental Uniforms and Ancillary Products
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	856,872		792,866
Income (loss) before income taxes	142,681		117,393
Total assets	2,913,437		2,842,058
Uniform Direct Sales
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	105,145		107,462
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,187		8,681
Total assets	133,409		143,993
First Aid, Safety and Fire Protection
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	140,060		125,875
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,620		11,446
Total assets	429,783		410,633
Corporate
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	0	[1]	74,043	[1]
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,828	[1]	(14,363)	[1]
Total assets	1,079,641	[1]	914,493	[1]
Document Shredding
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue			74,000
Income (loss) before income taxes			2,100
Total assets			$ 479,400

[1] Corporate assets as of August 31, 2014 include the investment in the Shred-it partnership. Corporate assets as of August 31, 2014 and 2013 include the assets of the document imaging and document retention business, which have been classified as held for sale. Corporate results and assets as of and for the period ended August 31, 2013 include the revenue ($74.0 million), income before income taxes ($2.1 million) and assets ($479.4 million) of the document shredding business.