Goodwill, Service Contracts and Other Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Service Contracts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 42,434	$ 55,675
Service contracts acquired	55,694	10,121
Service contracts divested in Storage Transactions		(9,570)
Service contracts amortization	(14,392)	(13,221)
Foreign currency translation	(21)	571
Balance at the end of the period	83,715	42,434
Corporate
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	10,470
Service contracts acquired		265
Service contracts divested in Storage Transactions		(9,570)
Service contracts amortization		(597)
Foreign currency translation		568
Balance at the end of the period		0
Operating Segments | Rental Uniforms & Ancillary Products
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	11,862	17,171
Service contracts acquired		313
Service contracts divested in Storage Transactions		0
Service contracts amortization		(5,619)
Foreign currency translation		3
Balance at the end of the period		11,862
Operating Segments | Uniform Direct Sales
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	0
Service contracts acquired		0
Service contracts divested in Storage Transactions		0
Service contracts amortization		0
Foreign currency translation		0
Balance at the end of the period		0
Operating Segments | First Aid, Safety & Fire Protection
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	30,572	28,034
Service contracts acquired		9,543
Service contracts divested in Storage Transactions		0
Service contracts amortization		(7,005)
Foreign currency translation		0
Balance at the end of the period		30,572
Operating Segments | Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	6,677
Service contracts acquired	18,912
Service contracts amortization	(4,398)
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at the end of the period	21,191	6,677
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,576
Service contracts acquired	34,052
Service contracts amortization	(3,355)
Foreign currency translation	(21)
Balance at the end of the period	32,252	1,576
Operating Segments | All Other
Service contracts [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	34,181
Service contracts acquired	2,730
Service contracts amortization	(6,639)
Foreign currency translation	0
Balance at the end of the period	$ 30,272	$ 34,181