The charge against earnings in the period, comprised of costs incurred associated with an exit or disposal activity other than for a discontinued operations as defined under generally accepted accounting principles. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References+ Details

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period for known and estimated costs of termination benefits provided to current employees that are involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding costs or losses pertaining to an entity newly acquired in a business combination or a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and costs associated with one-time termination benefits.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 5-8

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 112

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section 45

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012 segment	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments	4
Severance Costs			$ (1,400,000)
Business Exit Costs			(1,500,000)
Restructuring charges	$ 0	$ 0	$ (2,880,000)
Uniforms In Service [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Inventories, Useful Life, Maximum (in months)	18
Other Rental Items [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Inventories, Useful Life, Maximum (in months)	48
Inventories, Useful Life, Minimum (in months)	8
Service Contacts and Other Assets [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years)	5
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years)	10