Segment Information - Reportable Operating Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information
Insurance claims	$ 46.5			$ 41.4	$ (5.8)
Revenues	1,348.8		$ 1,276.1	3,908.3	3,733.9
Operating profit	(7.3)		33.7	42.7	85.5
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	2.6		1.6	6.3	4.3
Interest expense	(2.4)		(2.7)	(7.6)	(8.1)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(7.1)		32.6	41.4	81.7
Operating Profit | Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit					(1.3)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Insurance claims	7.0
Operating Segments | Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	678.5		648.3	2,004.0	1,917.1
Operating profit	33.4		41.6	108.2	109.1
Operating Segments | Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	147.3		151.0	449.3	452.2
Operating profit	6.0		7.0	18.5	17.1
Operating Segments | Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	162.0		156.5	471.2	459.4
Operating profit	7.8		9.0	21.0	20.2
Operating Segments | Security
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	98.9		95.4	287.5	288.9
Operating profit	3.0		3.6	7.5	7.9
Operating Segments | Building & Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	149.1		127.5	390.0	348.1
Operating profit	8.1		6.8	12.5	13.0
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	113.0		97.4	306.3	268.2
Operating profit	4.5		4.5	10.1	8.8
Operating Segments | Operating Profit | Janitorial
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit			1.2		3.4
Operating Segments | Operating Profit | Facility Services
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit			(0.5)		(1.3)
Operating Segments | Operating Profit | Parking
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit			(0.4)
Operating Segments | Operating Profit | Security
Segment Reporting Information
Impact of the change in reported operating profit			(0.3)		(0.8)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information
Insurance claims	39.5	$ 3.0
Operating profit	(65.7)		(37.2)	(127.0)	(86.3)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(2.6)		(1.6)	(6.3)	(4.3)
Adjustment for tax deductions for energy efficient government buildings, included in Building & Energy Solutions	$ (1.8)		$ 0.0	$ (1.8)	$ 0.0