Segment Information - Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		$ 1,268.4	$ 1,194.5
Operating profit		13.6	16.8
Adjustment for income from unconsolidated affiliates, net, included in Building & Energy Solutions		2.4	1.5
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net		2.4	1.5
Interest expense		(2.7)	(2.7)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		$ 13.3	15.6
Number of reportable segments | segment		5
Operating Segments | Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		$ 685.7	666.0
Operating profit	[1]	33.7	34.4
Operating Segments | Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		158.5	156.2
Operating profit	[1]	5.1	5.9
Operating Segments | Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		162.0	155.7
Operating profit	[1]	5.0	6.5
Operating Segments | Building & Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		149.8	119.4
Operating profit	[1]	6.5	1.2
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues		112.4	97.2
Operating profit	[1]	1.7	2.6
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information
Operating profit	[1]	(35.6)	(32.3)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information
Adjustment for income from unconsolidated affiliates, net, included in Building & Energy Solutions		(2.5)	(1.5)
Adjustment for tax deductions for energy efficient government buildings, included in Building & Energy Solutions		(0.3)	0.0
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net		$ (2.5)	(1.5)
Security | Operating Income (Loss) | Corporate
Segment Reporting Information
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment			(0.5)
Security | Operating Income (Loss) | Corporate | Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment			$ 0.5

[1] In connection with the sale of our Security business, certain general corporate expenses that were previously allocated to Security are now allocated back to Corporate expenses and the Janitorial segment. In addition, certain Corporate expenses that were directly related to the operations of our former Security business have been allocated to discontinued operations. As a result of these allocations, there was a $0.5 million net increase in Janitorial expenses for the three months ended January 31, 2015.