Goodwill, Service Contracts and Other Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance as of June 1, 2014	$ 1,267,411us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill acquired	909us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Goodwill divested in the Storage transactions	(75,660)
Foreign currency translation	(3,300)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Balance as of November 30, 2014	1,189,360us-gaap_Goodwill
Rental Uniforms and Ancillary Products
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance as of June 1, 2014	943,516
Goodwill acquired	70
Goodwill divested in the Storage transactions	0
Foreign currency translation	(832)
Balance as of November 30, 2014	942,754
Uniform Direct Sales
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance as of June 1, 2014	23,905
Goodwill acquired	0
Goodwill divested in the Storage transactions	0
Foreign currency translation	(49)
Balance as of November 30, 2014	23,856
First Aid, Safety and Fire Protection
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance as of June 1, 2014	221,911
Goodwill acquired	839
Goodwill divested in the Storage transactions	0
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance as of November 30, 2014	222,750
Corporate
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance as of June 1, 2014	78,079
Goodwill acquired	0
Goodwill divested in the Storage transactions	(75,660)
Foreign currency translation	(2,419)
Balance as of November 30, 2014	$ 0

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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