Goodwill, Service Contracts and Other Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 1,195,612	$ 1,267,411
Goodwill acquired	97,097	8,648
Goodwill divested in Storage Transactions		(75,660)
Foreign currency translation	(1,116)	4,787
Balance at the end of the period	1,291,593	1,195,612
Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	943,900
Balance at the end of the period		943,900
First Aid and Safety Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	155,000
Balance at the end of the period		155,000
All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	96,700
Balance at the end of the period		96,700
Operating Segments | Rental Uniforms & Ancillary Products
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	941,445	943,516
Goodwill acquired		70
Goodwill divested in Storage Transactions		0
Foreign currency translation		2,141
Balance at the end of the period		941,445
Operating Segments | Uniform Direct Sales
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	23,678	23,905
Goodwill acquired		0
Goodwill divested in Storage Transactions		0
Foreign currency translation		227
Balance at the end of the period		23,678
Operating Segments | First Aid, Safety & Fire Protection
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	230,489	221,911
Goodwill acquired		8,578
Goodwill divested in Storage Transactions		0
Foreign currency translation		0
Balance at the end of the period		230,489
Operating Segments | Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	943,909
Goodwill acquired	10,020
Foreign currency translation	(713)
Balance at the end of the period	953,216	943,909
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	154,954
Goodwill acquired	86,874
Foreign currency translation	(380)
Balance at the end of the period	241,448	154,954
Operating Segments | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	96,749
Goodwill acquired	203
Foreign currency translation	(23)
Balance at the end of the period	96,929	96,749
Corporate
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	78,079
Goodwill acquired		0
Goodwill divested in Storage Transactions		(75,660)
Foreign currency translation		2,419
Balance at the end of the period		0
Rental Uniforms & Ancillary Products | Operating Segments | Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	929,400
Balance at the end of the period		929,400
Rental Uniforms & Ancillary Products | Operating Segments | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	12,000
Balance at the end of the period		12,000
Uniform Direct Sales | Operating Segments | Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	14,500
Balance at the end of the period		14,500
Uniform Direct Sales | Operating Segments | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	9,200
Balance at the end of the period		9,200
First Aid, Safety & Fire Protection | Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	155,000
Balance at the end of the period		155,000
First Aid, Safety & Fire Protection | Operating Segments | All Other
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 75,500
Balance at the end of the period		$ 75,500