Segment Information - Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	$ 1,289.4us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet	$ 1,226.5us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Operating profit	19.2us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	23.9us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	1.5	1.5
Interest expense	(2.7)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(2.7)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Income before income taxes	18.0	22.7
Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	666.0	637.1
Operating profit	34.9	30.3
Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	156.2	151.7
Operating profit	5.9	5.1
Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	155.7	150.3
Operating profit	6.5	5.2
Security
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	94.9	99.7
Operating profit	1.9	2.3
Building & Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	119.4	102.1
Operating profit	1.2	2.7
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(1.5)	(1.5)
Other [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	97.2	85.6
Operating profit	2.6	1.9
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information
Operating profit	(32.3)	(22.1)
Operating Profit \| Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit		1.2
Operating Profit \| Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit		(0.4)
Operating Profit \| Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit		(0.5)
Operating Profit \| Security
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit		$ (0.3)

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

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