Operating Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	$ 7,116,340	$ 7,085,120	$ 6,892,303
Gross margin	3,314,651	3,233,748	3,128,588
Selling and administrative expenses	1,929,159	2,071,052	1,980,644
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses	0	0	14,410
Gain on sale of a cost method investment	0	0	69,373
Interest expense, net	97,743	104,405	100,508
Income before income taxes	1,287,749	1,058,291	1,102,399
Depreciation and amortization	387,951	379,053	360,093
Capital expenditures	143,470	230,289	276,719
Total assets	8,236,823	7,669,885	7,436,662
Uniform rental and facility services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	5,689,632	5,643,494	5,552,430
First Aid and Safety Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	784,291	708,569	619,470
Operating Segments | Uniform rental and facility services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	5,689,632	5,643,494	5,552,430
Gross margin	2,706,118	2,588,349	2,524,831
Selling and administrative expenses	1,480,278	1,583,791	1,533,711
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses			14,410
Gain on sale of a cost method investment			0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	1,225,840	1,004,558	976,710
Depreciation and amortization	323,596	317,699	301,328
Capital expenditures	104,020	183,364	220,373
Total assets	6,743,272	6,531,673	6,442,461
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	784,291	708,569	619,470
Gross margin	332,336	338,661	297,074
Selling and administrative expenses	251,153	231,769	206,990
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses			0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment			0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	81,183	106,892	90,084
Depreciation and amortization	43,314	38,516	36,824
Capital expenditures	34,384	35,678	36,783
Total assets	637,663	611,205	504,920
Operating Segments | All Other
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	642,417	733,057	720,403
Gross margin	276,197	306,738	306,683
Selling and administrative expenses	197,728	255,492	239,943
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses			0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment			0
Interest expense, net	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	78,469	51,246	66,740
Depreciation and amortization	21,041	22,838	21,941
Capital expenditures	5,066	11,247	19,563
Total assets	362,248	381,605	392,636
Corporate
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	0	0	0
Gross margin	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses			0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment			69,373
Interest expense, net	97,743	104,405	100,508
Income before income taxes	(97,743)	(104,405)	(31,135)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0	0
Total assets	$ 493,640	$ 145,402	$ 96,645