Healthcare Services (HCSG) 10-Q 19 Oct 18 2018 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 17, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC
Entity Central Index Key	731,012
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,798

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,197	$ 9,557
Marketable securities, at fair value	74,704	73,221
Accounts and notes receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $38,630 and $11,985 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	353,484	378,720
Inventories and supplies	41,595	42,393
Prepaid expenses and other assets	23,198	23,515
Total current assets	508,178	527,406
Property and equipment, net	13,067	13,509
Goodwill	51,084	51,084
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $16,175 and $12,853 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	27,559	30,881
Notes receivable – long–term portion, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,000 and $0 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	45,906	15,476
Deferred compensation funding, at fair value	32,946	28,885
Deferred income taxes	7,974	7,498
Other noncurrent assets	1,258	1,264
Total assets	687,972	676,003
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	75,541	74,463
Accrued payroll, accrued and withheld payroll taxes	52,617	32,139
Other accrued expenses	4,088	4,561
Borrowings under line of credit	9,959	35,382
Income taxes payable	0	15,378
Accrued insurance claims	24,167	22,245
Total current liabilities	166,372	184,168
Accrued insurance claims — long-term portion	68,782	62,454
Deferred compensation liability	33,238	29,429
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized; 75,256 and 74,960 shares issued, and 73,788 and 73,436 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	753	750
Additional paid-in capital	256,129	244,363
Retained earnings	173,033	163,860
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes	(712)	837
Common stock in treasury, at cost, 1,468 and 1,524 shares as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	(9,623)	(9,858)
Total stockholders’ equity	419,580	399,952
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 687,972	$ 676,003

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts, current	$ 38,630	$ 11,985
Accumulated amortization of other intangible assets	16,175	12,853
Allowance for doubtful accounts, noncurrent	$ 10,000	$ 0
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock issued (in shares)	75,256,000	74,960,000
Common stock outstanding (in shares)	73,788,000	73,436,000
Common stock in treasury (in shares)	1,468,000	1,524,000

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 506,871	$ 491,355	$ 1,512,413	$ 1,366,721
Operating costs and expenses:
Costs of services provided	439,203	426,924	1,346,725	1,179,816
Selling, general and administrative expense	36,713	32,940	104,608	93,141
Other income, net:
Investment and interest, net	2,027	1,439	3,823	4,523
Income before income taxes	32,982	32,930	64,903	98,287
Income tax provision	6,896	9,458	12,931	30,247
Net income	$ 26,086	$ 23,472	$ 51,972	$ 68,040
Per share data:
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.32	$ 0.70	$ 0.93
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.31	$ 0.70	$ 0.92
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	74,019	73,461	73,972	73,272
Diluted (in shares)	74,579	74,538	74,598	74,252
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 26,086	$ 23,472	$ 51,972	$ 68,040
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of taxes	(508)	82	(1,549)	1,163
Total comprehensive income	$ 25,578	$ 23,554	$ 50,423	$ 69,203

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 51,972	$ 68,040
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,022	6,342
Bad debt provision	42,387	4,000
Stock-based compensation expense (benefit), net of tax impact from equity compensation plans	3,407	(632)
Amortization of premium on marketable securities	1,007	929
Unrealized gain on deferred compensation fund investments	(3,071)	(3,351)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable	(49,873)	(103,697)
Inventories and supplies	798	(997)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	725	(11,658)
Deferred compensation funding	(1,141)	83
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses	55	(1,102)
Accrued payroll, accrued and withheld payroll taxes	23,202	28,575
Income taxes payable	(14,514)	7,865
Accrued insurance claims	8,249	4,992
Deferred compensation liability	4,284	3,733
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,509	3,122
Cash flows from investing activities:
Disposals of fixed assets	481	264
Additions to property and equipment	(3,739)	(3,962)
Purchases of marketable securities	(13,069)	(22,149)
Sales of marketable securities	8,706	20,354
Cash paid for acquisitions	0	(4,584)
Net cash used in investing activities	(7,621)	(10,077)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(42,748)	(41,302)
Reissuance of treasury stock pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan	68	71
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	6,855	10,338
Net (repayments) proceeds from short-term borrowings	(25,423)	25,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(61,248)	(5,893)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	5,640	(12,848)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	9,557	23,853
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ 15,197	$ 11,005

Consolidated Statement of Stock

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of taxes	Treasury Stock
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016					$ (319)
Comprehensive income:
Net income for the period	$ 68,040
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of taxes	1,163
Total comprehensive income	69,203
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017					844
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		74,960
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	399,952	$ 750	$ 244,363	$ 163,860	837	$ (9,858)
Comprehensive income:
Net income for the period	51,972			51,972
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of taxes	(1,549)				(1,549)
Total comprehensive income	50,423
Exercise of stock options and other stock-based compensation, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		292
Exercise of stock options and other stock-based compensation, net of shares tendered for payment	6,554	$ 3	6,551
Share-based compensation expense — stock options, restricted stock	4,174		4,174
Treasury shares issued for Deferred Compensation Plan funding and redemptions	475		597			(122)
Shares issued pursuant to Employee Stock Plan	2,819		2,473			346
Dividends paid and accrued	(42,868)			(42,868)
Shares issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan	68		57			11
Contingent shares settled pursuant to acquisition	(2,291)		(2,291)
Other (in shares)		4
Other	274		205	69
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		75,256
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 419,580	$ 753	$ 256,129	$ 173,033	$ (712)	$ (9,623)

Description of Business and Sig

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	Note 1— Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (the “Company”) provides management, administrative and operating expertise and services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and dietary service departments of the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals located throughout the United States. Although the Company does not directly participate in any government reimbursement programs, the Company’s clients receive government reimbursements related to Medicare and Medicaid. Therefore, they are directly affected by any legislation relating to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs. The Company provides services primarily pursuant to full service agreements with its clients. In such agreements, the Company is responsible for the day-to-day management of employees located at the clients’ facilities. The Company also provides services on the basis of management-only agreements for a limited number of clients. The agreements with clients typically provide for renewable one year service terms, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days’ notice after an initial period of 60 to 120 days. The Company is organized into two reportable segments: housekeeping, laundry, linen and other services (“Housekeeping”), and dietary department services (“Dietary”). Housekeeping consists of managing the clients’ housekeeping departments, which are principally responsible for the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of resident rooms and common areas of a client’s facility, as well as the laundering and processing of the bed linens, uniforms, resident personal clothing and other assorted linen items utilized at a client facility. Dietary consists of managing the clients’ dietary departments, which are principally responsible for food purchasing, meal preparation and dietitian professional services, which includes the development of menus that meet residents’ dietary needs. Unaudited Interim Financial Data The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. However, in the Company’s opinion, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these consolidated financial statements. The balance sheet shown in this report as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from, and does not include, all of the disclosures contained in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 . These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period. Use of Estimates in Financial Statements In preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, estimates and assumptions are made that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are used in determining, but are not limited to, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts, accrued insurance claims, valuations, deferred taxes and reviews for potential impairment. The estimates are based upon various factors including current and historical trends, as well as other pertinent industry and regulatory authority information. Management regularly evaluates this information to determine if it is necessary to update the basis for its estimates and to adjust for known changes. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents are held in U.S. financial institutions or in custodial accounts with U.S. financial institutions. Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at time of purchase that are readily convertible into cash and have insignificant interest rate risk. Accounts and Notes Receivable Accounts and notes receivable consist of Housekeeping and Dietary segment receivables from contracts with customers. Accounts receivable initially are recorded at the transaction amount, and recorded after the Company has an unconditional right to payment where only the passage of time is required before payment is received. Each reporting period, the Company evaluates the collectability of outstanding receivable balances and records an allowance for doubtful accounts representing an estimate of probable losses. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are made by recording a charge to bad debt expense reported in costs of services provided. Notes receivable are initially recorded when accounts receivable are transferred into a promissory note. Notes receivable are recorded as an alternative to accounts receivable to memorialize an unqualified promise to pay a specific sum, typically with interest, in accordance with a defined payment schedule. Refer to Note 3— Accounts and Notes Receivable herein for further information. Inventories and Supplies Inventories and supplies include housekeeping, linen and laundry supplies, as well as food provisions and supplies. Non-linen inventories and supplies are stated at cost to approximate a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Linen supplies are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life of 24 months. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue from service agreements with customers when or as the promised goods and services are provided to customers. Revenues are reported net of sales taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities. The guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) became effective and was adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2018, by applying the modified retrospective method for contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. The standard requires the Company to recognize revenue as the promised goods and services within the terms of the Company’s contracts are performed and satisfied. The amount of revenue which the Company recognizes is based on the consideration which the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for contracted promised goods and services. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to the Company's accounting for revenue earned relating to the Housekeeping and Dietary segments. The Company also did not recognize an opening adjustment to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of the standard. See Note 2—Revenue herein for additional revenue disclosure that is being presented as a result of the newly adopted standard. Prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previous guidance. Income Taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current period. The Company accrues for probable tax obligations as required by facts and circumstances in various regulatory environments. In addition, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. When appropriate, valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts for which realization is more likely than not. Uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns are reflected within the Company’s financial statements based on a recognition and measurement process. Earnings per Common Share Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common shares, such as those issuable upon exercise of stock options and upon the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units. Share-Based Compensation The Company estimates the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model for stock options and using the share price on the date of grant for restricted stock and restricted stock units. The value of the award is recognized ratably as an expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income over the requisite service periods, with adjustments made for forfeitures as they occur. Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill Identifiable intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective lives. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of acquired businesses. Management reviews the carrying value of goodwill at least annually during the fourth quarter of each year to assess for impairment, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may exceed its estimated fair value. No impairment loss was recognized on the Company’s intangible assets or goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . Concentrations of Credit Risk The financial instruments that are subject to concentrations of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, deferred compensation funding and accounts and notes receivable. The Company’s marketable securities are fixed income investments which are highly liquid and can be readily purchased or sold through established markets. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were held in one large financial institution located in the United States. The Company’s clients are concentrated in the healthcare industry and are primarily providers of long-term care. The revenues of many of the Company’s clients are highly reliant on Medicare, Medicaid and third party payors’ reimbursement funding rates. New legislation or changes in existing regulations could directly impact the governmental reimbursement programs in which the clients participate. As a result, the Company may not know the full effects of such programs until these laws are fully implemented and governmental agencies issue applicable regulations or guidance. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on their balance sheet related to the rights and obligations created by most leases, while continuing to recognize expenses on their income statements over the lease term. It will also require disclosures designed to give financial statement users information regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company will adopt ASU 2016–02 as of January 1, 2019 and will apply certain practical expedients offered in the guidance, such as those that state that the Company need not reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases, reevaluate the classification of expired or existing leases, or reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Management has substantially completed the process of identifying existing lease contracts and is currently performing detailed evaluations of the leases under the new accounting requirements. The Company believes the most significant changes to the financial statements relate to the recognition of right–of–use assets and offsetting lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet for operating leases. The actual impact on the consolidated balance sheet will be contingent upon the Company's population of operating leases at adoption, however Management does not expect the standard to have a material impact on cash flows or results of operations. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 no longer requires companies to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure impairment, eliminating step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference of the carrying amount to the fair value of goodwill on a reporting unit basis. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, but early adoption is permitted. The Company has elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 for the annual evaluation which will be performed during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Revenue

Revenue	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue	Note 2—Revenue The Company disaggregates its consolidated revenues by reportable segment, as Management evaluates the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenues by segment. Refer to Note 12—Segment Information herein as well as the information below regarding the Company’s reportable segments. Housekeeping Housekeeping accounted for approximately 48.5% , or $734.2 million , and 53.7% , or $733.7 million , of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The services provided under this segment include managing clients’ housekeeping departments, which are principally responsible for the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of resident rooms and common areas of the clients’ facilities, as well as the laundering and processing of the bed linens, uniforms, resident personal clothing and other assorted linen items utilized at the clients’ facilities. Upon beginning service with a client facility, the Company will typically hire and train the employees previously employed by such facility and assign an on-site manager to supervise and train the front-line personnel and coordinate housekeeping services with other facility support functions in accordance with client requests. Such management personnel also oversee the execution of various cost and quality control procedures including continuous training and employee evaluation, and on-site testing for infection control. Dietary Dietary services represented approximately 51.5% , or $778.2 million , and 46.3% , or $633.0 million , of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Dietary services consist of managing clients’ dietary departments which are principally responsible for food purchasing, meal preparation and professional dietitian services, which include the development of menus that meet the dietary needs of residents. On-site management is responsible for all daily dietary department activities, with regular support being provided by a District Manager specializing in dietary services, as well as a registered dietitian. The Company also offers clinical consulting services to facilities which if contracted is a service bundled within the monthly service provided to clients. Upon beginning service with a client facility, the Company will typically hire and train the employees previously employed by such facility and assign an on-site manager to supervise and train the front-line personnel and coordinate dietitian services with other facility support functions in accordance with client requests. Such management personnel also oversee the execution of various cost- and quality-control procedures including continuous training and employee evaluation. Revenue Recognition Substantially all of the Company's revenues are derived from contracts with customers. The Company accounts for revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with ASC 606, and as such, the Company recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The Company’s costs of obtaining contracts are not material. The Company performs services and provides goods in accordance with contracts with its customers. Such contracts typically provide for a renewable one year service term, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days ' notice, after an initial period of 60 to 120 days . A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is defined as the unit of account under ASC 606. The Company’s Housekeeping and Dietary contracts relate to the provision of bundles of goods, services or both, which represent a series of distinct goods and services and that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Accordingly, the Company accounts for the series as a single performance obligation satisfied over time, as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the goods and services provided. Revenue is recognized using the output method, which is based upon the delivery of goods and services to the clients’ facilities. In limited cases, the Company provides goods, services or both, before the execution of a written contract. In these cases, the Company defers the recognition of revenue until a contract is executed. The amount of such deferred revenue was no t material as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 . The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to its customers. The transaction price does not include taxes assessed or collected. The Company’s contracts detail the fees that the Company charges for the goods and services it provides. For certain contracts which contain a variable component to the transaction price, the Company is required to make estimates of the amount of consideration to which the Company will be entitled, based on variability in resident and patient populations serviced, product usage or quantities consumed. The Company recognizes revenue related to such estimates only when Management determines that there will not be a significant reversal in the amount of revenue recognized. The Company’s contracts generally do not contain significant financing components, as the contracts contain payment terms that are less than one year. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation, noting that the bundle of goods, services or goods and services provided under each Housekeeping and Dietary contract represents a single performance obligation that is satisfied over time. The Company recognizes the related revenue when it satisfies the performance obligation by transferring a bundle of promised goods, services or both to a customer. Such recognition is on a monthly or weekly basis, as goods are provided and services are performed. In some cases, the Company requires customers to pay in advance for goods and services to be provided. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the value of the associated contract liabilities was no t material. Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations The Company recognizes revenue as it satisfies the performance obligations associated with contracts with customers, which due to the nature of the goods and services provided by the Company, are satisfied over time. Contracts may contain transaction prices that are fixed, variable or both. The significant majority of the Company’s contracts with customers have an initial term of one year or less , with renewable one year service terms, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days ’ notice after an initial period of 60 to 120 days . For the purpose of disclosing the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations, the Company elected to apply practical expedients available under the guidance in ASC 606 to exclude from the calculation future revenues expected for the performance of services under contracts with variable consideration that are for a term of one year or less. Although only a small portion of the Company’s contracts have an original expected duration that exceeds one year , the Company has historically had, and expects to continue to have, favorable client retention rates. As of September 30, 2018 , the revenue expected to be recognized with the fixed transaction price associated with the remaining performance obligations under the Company’s existing contracts with a term greater than one year is $67.9 million for the remainder of 2018 , $271.7 million for 2019 , $271.7 million for 2020 , $271.7 million for 2021 , $271.7 million for 2022 and $339.6 million thereafter.

Accounts and Notes Receivable

Accounts and Notes Receivable	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Receivables [Abstract]
Accounts and Notes Receivable	Note 3— Accounts and Notes Receivable The Company’s accounts and notes receivable balances consisted of the following as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Short-term Accounts and notes receivable $ 392,114 $ 390,705 Allowance for doubtful accounts (38,630 ) (11,985 ) Total net short-term accounts and notes receivable 353,484 378,720 Long-term Notes receivable 55,906 15,476 Allowance for doubtful accounts (10,000 ) — Total net long-term notes receivable 45,906 15,476 Total net accounts and notes receivable $ 399,390 $ 394,196 The Company makes credit decisions on a case–by–case basis after reviewing a number of qualitative and quantitative factors related to the specific client as well as current industry variables that may impact that client. There are a variety of factors that impact a client’s ability to pay in accordance with the Company’s service agreements. These factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuating census numbers, litigation costs and the client’s participation in programs funded by federal and state governmental agencies. Deviations in the timing or amounts of reimbursements under those programs can impact the client’s cash flows and their ability to make timely payments. However, the client's obligation to pay the Company in accordance with the service agreements are not contingent upon the client’s cash flows. Notwithstanding the Company’s efforts to minimize its credit risk exposure, the aforementioned factors, as well as other factors that impact client cash flows or ability to make timely payments, could have an indirect, yet material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The Company’s net current accounts and notes receivable balance decreased from December 31, 2017 . Fluctuations in net accounts and notes receivable are generally attributable to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the timing of cash receipts from customers and the inception, transition or termination of client relationships. However, the Company offset its accounts and notes receivable with an increased allowance for doubtful accounts in the first quarter 2018 related primarily to corporate restructurings of two privately-held, multi-state operators that occurred during the first quarter 2018. In addition, the Company converted approximately $24.8 million of accounts receivable to long-term notes receivable, due to the achievement of key operational and financial milestones related to the 2017 dining and nutrition expansion with Genesis HealthCare. Also, in the third quarter of 2018 the Company finalized an agreement for a long-term promissory note receivable related to the previously mentioned corporate restructurings from the first quarter 2018. The promissory note receivable was $10.0 million, net of reserve, and was finalized during the three months ended September 30, 2018 . Prior to the promissory note being finalized, the corresponding accounts receivable balance was net of a $10.0 million allowance for doubtful accounts reserve which was originally recorded during the first quarter 2018. As a result of the promissory note, the Company reclassified the reserve balance to an allowance for doubtful accounts on the Company’s long-term notes receivable. The Company deploys significant resources and has invested in tools and processes to optimize Management’s credit and collections efforts. When appropriate, the Company utilizes interest-bearing promissory notes as an alternative to accounts receivable to enhance the collectability of amounts due, by instituting a definitive repayment plan and providing a means by which to further evidence the amounts owed. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Company had $66.5 million and $36.6 million , net of reserves, respectively, of such promissory notes outstanding. In addition, the Company may assist clients who are adjusting to changes in their cash flows by amending the Company’s agreements from full-service to management-only arrangements, or by modifying contractual payment terms to accommodate clients who have in good faith established clearly-defined plans for addressing cash flow issues. These efforts are intended to minimize the Company’s collections risk while maintaining relationships with the clients.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Note 4— Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The allowance for doubtful accounts is established when the Company determines that it is probable that receivables have been impaired and the Company can reasonably estimate the amount of the losses. The related provision for bad debts is charged to costs of services provided in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The allowance for doubtful accounts is evaluated based on the Company’s ongoing review of accounts and notes receivable and is inherently subjective as it requires estimates susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. The Company has had varying collections experience with respect to its accounts and notes receivable. The Company has sometimes extended the period of payment for certain clients beyond contractual terms. In order to provide for such collection issues and the general risk associated with the granting of credit terms, the Company recorded bad debt provisions (in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts) of $42.4 million and $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The increase in the provision for bad debts period-over-period is primarily related to corporate restructurings of two privately-held, multi-state operators that occurred during the first quarter 2018. In making the Company’s credit evaluations, in addition to analyzing and anticipating, where possible, the specific cases described above, Management considers the general collection risk associated with trends in the long-term care industry. The Company establishes credit limits, performs ongoing credit evaluations and monitors accounts to minimize the risk of loss. Despite the Company’s efforts to minimize credit risk exposure, clients could be adversely affected if future industry trends change in such a manner as to negatively impact their cash flows. If the Company’s clients experience a negative impact on their cash flows, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in Accumulated Other Co

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component	Note 5—Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component Accumulated other comprehensive income consists of unrealized gains and losses from the Company’s available-for-sale marketable securities. The following table provides a summary of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 : Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities (1) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) — beginning balance $ 837 $ (319 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (1,694 ) 1,162 Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income (2) 145 1 Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income (3) (1,549 ) 1,163 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income — ending balance $ (712 ) $ 844 (1) All amounts are net of tax. (2) Realized losses were recorded pre-tax under “Other income, net - Investment and interest” in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recorded $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million of realized losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities, respectively. Refer to Note 8—Fair Value Measurements herein for further information. (3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the changes in other comprehensive (loss) income were net of a tax benefit of $0.3 million and an expense of $0.6 million , respectively. Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 2018 2017 (in thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, (Losses) gains from the sale of available-for-sale securities $ (24 ) $ 171 Tax benefit (expense) 5 (54 ) Net (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income $ (19 ) $ 117 Nine Months Ended September 30, Losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities $ (180 ) $ (2 ) Tax benefit 35 1 Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income $ (145 ) $ (1 )

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	Note 6—Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded over the estimated useful life of each class of depreciable asset, and is computed using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated asset life or term of the lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. The following table sets forth the amounts of property and equipment by each class of depreciable asset as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Housekeeping and Dietary equipment $ 22,177 $ 22,349 Computer hardware and software 11,955 12,665 Other (1) 949 990 Total property and equipment, at cost 35,081 36,004 Less accumulated depreciation 22,014 22,495 Total property and equipment, net $ 13,067 $ 13,509 (1) Includes furniture and fixtures, leasehold improvements and autos and trucks. Depreciation expense for each of the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.1 million . Depreciation expense for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $3.7 million .

Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Other Intangible Assets	Note 7—Other Intangible Assets The Company’s other intangible assets consist of customer relationships which were obtained through acquisitions and are recorded at their fair values at the date of acquisition. Intangible assets with determinable lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The customer relationships have a weighted-average amortization period of approximately 10 years . The following table sets forth the estimated amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization for the remainder of 2018 , the following five fiscal years and thereafter: Period/Year Total Amortization Expense (in thousands) October 1 to December 31, 2018 $ 1,043 2019 $ 4,165 2020 $ 4,165 2021 $ 4,165 2022 $ 4,165 2023 $ 3,168 Thereafter $ 6,688 Amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.1 million and $1.0 million , respectively. Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $3.3 million and $2.7 million , respectively.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Note 8—Fair Value Measurements The Company’s current assets and current liabilities are financial instruments and most of these items (other than marketable securities and inventories) are recorded at cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The estimated fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s line of credit represents the outstanding amount of the borrowings, which approximates fair value. The Company’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis are its marketable securities and deferred compensation funding. The recorded values of all of the financial instruments approximate their current fair values because of their nature, stated interest rates and respective maturity dates or durations. The Company’s marketable securities consist of tax-exempt municipal bonds, which are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses associated with these investments are included in other comprehensive income (net of tax) within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The fair value of these marketable securities is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, as these securities are measured using quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable. Such valuations are determined by a third-party pricing service. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recorded unrealized losses of $0.5 million and unrealized gains of $0.1 million on marketable securities, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recorded unrealized losses of $1.5 million and unrealized gains of $1.2 million on marketable securities, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company received total proceeds, less the amount of interest received, of $2.9 million and $5.7 million , respectively, from sales of available-for-sale municipal bonds. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , these sales resulted in realized losses of less than $0.1 million and realized gains of $0.2 million , respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company received total proceeds, less the amount of interest received, of $8.7 million and $20.4 million , respectively, from sales of available-for-sale municipal bonds. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , these sales resulted in realized losses of $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million , respectively, which were recorded in “Other income, net – Investment and interest” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The basis for the sale of these securities was the specific identification of each bond sold during the period. The investments under the funded deferred compensation plan are accounted for as trading securities and unrealized gains or losses are included in earnings. The fair value of these investments are determined based on quoted market prices (Level 1). The following tables provide fair value measurement information for the Company’s marketable securities and deferred compensation fund investments as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : As of September 30, 2018 Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Amount Total Fair Value Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) (in thousands) Financial Assets: Marketable securities Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 74,704 $ 74,704 $ — $ 74,704 $ — Deferred compensation fund Money Market (1) $ 2,964 $ 2,964 $ — $ 2,964 $ — Balanced and Lifestyle 9,054 9,054 9,054 — — Large Cap Growth 9,714 9,714 9,714 — — Small Cap Growth 4,015 4,015 4,015 — — Fixed Income 3,362 3,362 3,362 — — International 1,627 1,627 1,627 — — Mid Cap Growth 2,210 2,210 2,210 — — Deferred compensation fund $ 32,946 $ 32,946 $ 29,982 $ 2,964 $ — As of December 31, 2017 Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Total Fair Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) (in thousands) Financial Assets: Marketable securities Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 73,221 $ 73,221 $ — $ 73,221 $ — Deferred compensation fund Money Market (1) $ 2,720 $ 2,720 $ — $ 2,720 $ — Balanced and Lifestyle 8,523 8,523 8,523 — — Large Cap Growth 7,802 7,802 7,802 — — Small Cap Growth 3,442 3,442 3,442 — — Fixed Income 3,050 3,050 3,050 — — International 1,531 1,531 1,531 — — Mid Cap Growth 1,817 1,817 1,817 — — Deferred compensation fund $ 28,885 $ 28,885 $ 26,165 $ 2,720 $ — (1) The fair value of the money market fund is based on the net asset value (“NAV”) of the shares held by the plan at the end of the period. The money market fund includes short-term United States dollar denominated money market instruments and the NAV is determined by the custodian of the fund. The money market fund can be redeemed at its NAV at the measurement date as there are no significant restrictions on the ability to sell this investment. Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Other-than-temporary Impairments (in thousands) September 30, 2018 Type of security: Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 75,606 $ 169 $ (1,071 ) $ 74,704 $ — Total debt securities $ 75,606 $ 169 $ (1,071 ) $ 74,704 $ — December 31, 2017 Type of security: Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 72,249 $ 1,169 $ (197 ) $ 73,221 $ — Total debt securities $ 72,249 $ 1,169 $ (197 ) $ 73,221 $ — The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of debt securities held at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , which are classified as marketable securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: Municipal Bonds — Available-for-Sale Contractual maturity: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Maturing in one year or less $ 928 $ 916 Maturing in second year through fifth year 20,688 15,948 Maturing in sixth year through tenth year 18,515 22,851 Maturing after ten years 34,573 33,506 Total debt securities $ 74,704 $ 73,221

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Note 9— Stock-Based Compensation The components of the Company’s stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) Stock options $ 2,231 $ 2,885 Restricted stock and restricted stock units 1,943 888 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 432 365 Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income (1) $ 4,606 $ 4,138 (1) Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. At September 30, 2018 , the unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options and awards was $15.3 million . The weighted average period over which these awards will vest is approximately 2.7 years. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan The Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provides that current or prospective officers, employees, non-employee directors and advisors can receive share-based awards such as stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock awards. The Plan seeks to promote the highest level of performance by providing an economic interest in the long-term success of the Company. As of September 30, 2018 , 2.9 million shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the Plan, including 0.5 million shares available for future grant. No stock award will have a term in excess of ten years . All awards granted under the Plan become vested and exercisable ratably over a five year period on each yearly anniversary of the grant date. The Nominating, Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for determining the terms of the grants in accordance with the Plan. Stock Options A summary of stock options outstanding under the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows: Stock Options Outstanding Number of Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price (in thousands) December 31, 2017 2,374 $ 29.22 Granted 169 $ 52.06 Exercised (262 ) $ 26.07 Forfeited (60 ) $ 35.45 Expired (4 ) $ 25.41 September 30, 2018 2,217 $ 31.17 The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $10.48 and $8.52 per common share, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $5.9 million and $13.3 million , respectively. The fair value of stock option awards granted in 2018 and 2017 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 2.1 % 2.0 % Weighted average expected life 5.8 years 5.8 years Expected volatility 21.4 % 25.1 % Dividend yield 1.5 % 1.9 % The following table summarizes other information about the stock options at September 30, 2018 : September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands, except per share data) Outstanding: Aggregate intrinsic value $ 22,856 Weighted average remaining contractual life 6.1 years Exercisable: Number of options 1,141 Weighted average exercise price $ 24.98 Aggregate intrinsic value $ 17,837 Weighted average remaining contractual life 4.7 years Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock The fair value of outstanding restricted stock units and restricted stock was determined based on the market price of the shares on the date of grant. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company granted 139,000 restricted stock units with a weighted average grant date fair value of $52.06 per unit. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Company granted 88,000 restricted stock units with a weighted average grant date fair value of $40.16 per share. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company did no t grant any restricted stock. A summary of the outstanding restricted stock units and restricted stock as of December 31, 2017 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows: Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Number Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in thousands) December 31, 2017 145 $ 37.07 Granted 139 $ 52.06 Vested (36 ) $ 35.79 Forfeited (5 ) $ 52.06 September 30, 2018 243 $ 45.55 Employee Stock Purchase Plan The Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") is currently available through 2021 to all eligible employees. All full-time and part-time employees who work an average of 20 hours per week and have completed two years of continuous service with the Company are eligible to participate. Annual offerings commence and terminate on the respective year’s first and last calendar day. Under the ESPP, the Company is authorized to issue up to 4.1 million shares of its common stock to its employees. Pursuant to such authorization, there are 2.3 million shares available for future grant at September 30, 2018 . The expense associated with the options granted under the ESPP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 1.89% 1.05% Weighted average expected life (years) 1.0 1.0 Expected volatility 20.8% 21.2% Dividend yield 1.4% 1.9% Deferred Compensation Plan The Company offers a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for executives and certain key employees. The SERP allows participants to defer a portion of their earned income on a pre-tax basis and as of the last day of each plan year, each participant will be credited with a match of a portion of their deferral in the form of the Company’s common stock based on the then-current market value. Under the SERP, the Company is authorized to issue 1.0 million shares of its common stock to its employees. Pursuant to such authorization, the Company has 0.4 million shares available for future grant at September 30, 2018 . At the time of issuance, such shares are accounted for at cost as treasury stock. The following table summarizes information about the SERP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 : Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) SERP expense (1) $ 490 $ 460 Unrealized gain recorded in SERP liability account $ 2,692 $ 3,375 (1) Both the SERP match and the deferrals are included in the selling, general and administrative caption in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Dividends

Dividends	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Dividends	Note 10— Dividends During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company paid regular quarterly cash dividends totaling approximately $42.7 million as follows: Quarter Ended March 31, 2018 June 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 (in thousands, except per share data) Cash dividend paid per common share $ 0.19125 $ 0.19250 $ 0.19375 Total cash dividends paid $ 14,149 $ 14,249 $ 14,350 Record date February 16, 2018 May 25, 2018 August 24, 2018 Payment date March 23, 2018 June 29, 2018 September 28, 2018 Additionally, on October 16, 2018 , the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.19500 per common share, which will be paid on December 28, 2018 , to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 23, 2018 . Cash dividends declared for the periods presented were as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.19500 $ 0.19000 $ 0.58125 $ 0.56625

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 11— Income Taxes On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”), which significantly changed U.S. tax law. The Act lowered the Company’s U.S. statutory federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. Year to date, the Company has recognized a provision for income taxes of $12.9 million . The 2018 estimated annual effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 21% to 23% . The actual annual effective tax rate will be impacted by the tax effects of option exercises or vested awards, which are treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur, and therefore cannot be considered in the calculation of the estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact on the Company’s income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 for such discrete items was approximately $1.2 million . Differences between the effective tax rate and the applicable U.S. federal statutory rate arise primarily from the effect of state and local income taxes, share-based compensation and tax credits available to the Company. The actual 2018 effective tax rate will likely vary from the estimate depending on the availability of tax credits and the exercise of stock options and vesting of share-based awards. The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which results in recognizing income tax expense based on the amount of income taxes payable or refundable for the current year. Additionally, the Company regularly evaluates the tax positions taken or expected to be taken resulting from financial statement recognition of certain items. Based on the evaluation, there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. The evaluation was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2013 through 2017 (with regard to U.S. federal income tax returns) and December 31, 2012 through 2017 (with regard to various state and local income tax returns), the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of September 30, 2018 . The Company may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by taxing jurisdictions, although any such assessments historically have been minimal and immaterial to its financial results. When the Company has received an assessment for interest and/or penalties, it will be classified in the financial statements as selling, general and administrative expense. In addition, any interest or penalties relating to recognized uncertain tax positions would also be recorded in selling, general and administrative expense.

Segment Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Note 12—Segment Information The Company manages and evaluates its operations in two reportable segments: Housekeeping (housekeeping, laundry, linen and other services) and Dietary (dietary department services). Although both segments serve the same client base and share many operational similarities, they are managed separately due to distinct differences in the type of services provided, as well as the specialized expertise required of the professional management personnel responsible for delivering each segment’s services. Such services are rendered pursuant to discrete service agreements, specific to each reportable segment. The Company’s accounting policies for the segments are generally the same as described in the Company’s significant accounting policies. Differences between the reportable segments’ operating results and other disclosed data and the information in the consolidated financial statements relate primarily to corporate level transactions and recording of transactions at the reportable segment level using other than generally accepted accounting principles. There are certain inventories and supplies that are primarily expensed when incurred within the operating segments, while they are capitalized in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, most corporate expenses such as corporate salary and benefit costs, certain legal costs, bad debt expense, information technology costs, depreciation, amortization of finite-lived intangible assets, share based compensation costs and other corporate-specific costs, are not allocated to the operating segments. There are also allocations for workers’ compensation and general liability expense within the operating segments that differ from the actual expense recorded by the Company under U.S. GAAP. Segment amounts disclosed are prior to elimination entries made in consolidation. Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (in thousands) Revenues Housekeeping $ 242,208 $ 247,395 $ 734,164 $ 733,737 Dietary 264,663 243,960 778,249 632,984 Total $ 506,871 $ 491,355 $ 1,512,413 $ 1,366,721 Income before income taxes Housekeeping $ 27,206 $ 26,848 $ 85,221 $ 71,524 Dietary 16,279 11,366 46,580 34,733 Corporate and eliminations (1) (10,503 ) (5,284 ) (66,898 ) (7,970 ) Total $ 32,982 $ 32,930 $ 64,903 $ 98,287 (1) Primarily represents corporate office costs and related overhead, recording of certain inventories and supplies and workers compensation costs at the reportable segment level which use accounting methods that differ from those used at the corporate level, as well as consolidated subsidiaries’ operating expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments, net of investment and interest income. It is also inclusive of charges recorded to provision to bad debt during the first quarter of 2018 as a result of restructuring events primarily from two customers that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . No such charges were recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2018 .

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Common Share	Note 13—Earnings Per Common Share Basic and diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of basic and diluted common shares outstanding, respectively. The weighted-average number of diluted common shares includes the impact of dilutive securities, including outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units. The table below reconciles the weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (in thousands) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 74,019 73,461 73,972 73,272 Effect of dilutive securities (1) 560 1,077 626 980 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 74,579 74,538 74,598 74,252 (1) Certain outstanding equity awards are anti-dilutive and were therefore excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , stock options to purchase 0.6 million shares having a weighted average exercise price of $42.79 and $42.70 per share, respectively, were excluded. During the three months ended September 30, 2017 , there were no anti-dilutive stock options, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , stock options to purchase 0.5 million shares having a weighted average exercise price of $39.38 per share were excluded. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , 0.1 million restricted stock units were excluded. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , there were no anti-dilutive restricted stock units.

Other Contingencies

Other Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Contingencies	Note 14— Other Contingencies Line of Credit At September 30, 2018 , the Company had a $300 million bank line of credit on which to draw for general corporate purposes. Amounts drawn under the line of credit are payable upon demand and generally bear interest at LIBOR plus 75 basis points . At September 30, 2018 , there were $10.0 million in borrowings under the line of credit. The line of credit requires the Company to satisfy one financial covenant, with which the Company is in compliance as of September 30, 2018 and expects to remain in compliance. The line of credit expires on December 18, 2018 , and although no assurances can be provided that the Company will renew the line of credit or secure other financing, the Company expects the line of credit to be renewed prior to expiration, or substituted with another form of financing. At September 30, 2018 , the Company also had outstanding $65.9 million in irrevocable standby letters of credit, which relate to payment obligations under the Company's insurance programs. In connection with the issuance of the letters of credit, the amount available under the line of credit was reduced by $65.9 million to $224.2 million at September 30, 2018 . Tax Jurisdictions and Matters The Company provides services throughout the continental United States and is subject to numerous state and local taxing jurisdictions. In the ordinary course of business, a jurisdiction may contest the Company’s reporting positions with respect to the application of its tax code to the Company’s services, which could result in additional tax liabilities. The Company has tax matters with various taxing authorities. Because of the uncertainties related to both the probable outcomes and amount of probable assessments due, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of a liability. The Company does not expect the resolution of any of these matters, taken individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations based on the Company’s best estimate of the outcomes of such matters. Legal Proceedings The Company is subject to various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. Some of these matters include payroll and employee-related matters and examinations by governmental agencies. As the Company becomes aware of such claims and legal actions, the Company records accruals for any exposures that are probable and estimable. If adverse outcomes of such claims and legal actions are reasonably possible, Management assesses materiality and provides financial disclosure, as appropriate. The Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding or governmental examination that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. Government Regulations The Company’s clients are concentrated in the healthcare industry and are primarily providers of long-term care. The revenues of many of the Company’s clients are highly reliant on Medicare, Medicaid and third party payors’ reimbursement funding rates. New legislation or additional changes in existing regulations could directly impact the governmental reimbursement programs in which the clients participate. The full effect of any such programs would not be realized until these laws are fully implemented and government agencies issue applicable regulations or guidance.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Note 15—Subsequent Events The Company evaluated all subsequent events through the filing date of this Form 10-Q. There were no events or transactions occurring during this subsequent reporting period which require recognition or additional disclosure in these financial statements.

Description of Business and S_2

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (the “Company”) provides management, administrative and operating expertise and services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and dietary service departments of the healthcare industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals located throughout the United States. Although the Company does not directly participate in any government reimbursement programs, the Company’s clients receive government reimbursements related to Medicare and Medicaid. Therefore, they are directly affected by any legislation relating to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs. The Company provides services primarily pursuant to full service agreements with its clients. In such agreements, the Company is responsible for the day-to-day management of employees located at the clients’ facilities. The Company also provides services on the basis of management-only agreements for a limited number of clients. The agreements with clients typically provide for renewable one year service terms, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days’ notice after an initial period of 60 to 120 days. The Company is organized into two reportable segments: housekeeping, laundry, linen and other services (“Housekeeping”), and dietary department services (“Dietary”). Housekeeping consists of managing the clients’ housekeeping departments, which are principally responsible for the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of resident rooms and common areas of a client’s facility, as well as the laundering and processing of the bed linens, uniforms, resident personal clothing and other assorted linen items utilized at a client facility. Dietary consists of managing the clients’ dietary departments, which are principally responsible for food purchasing, meal preparation and dietitian professional services, which includes the development of menus that meet residents’ dietary needs.
Unaudited Interim Financial Data	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. However, in the Company’s opinion, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these consolidated financial statements. The balance sheet shown in this report as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from, and does not include, all of the disclosures contained in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 . These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 . The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.
Use of Estimates in Financial Statements	In preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, estimates and assumptions are made that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are used in determining, but are not limited to, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts, accrued insurance claims, valuations, deferred taxes and reviews for potential impairment. The estimates are based upon various factors including current and historical trends, as well as other pertinent industry and regulatory authority information. Management regularly evaluates this information to determine if it is necessary to update the basis for its estimates and to adjust for known changes.
Principles of Consolidation	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and cash equivalents are held in U.S. financial institutions or in custodial accounts with U.S. financial institutions. Cash equivalents are defined as short-term, highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at time of purchase that are readily convertible into cash and have insignificant interest rate risk.
Accounts and Notes Receivable	Accounts and notes receivable consist of Housekeeping and Dietary segment receivables from contracts with customers. Accounts receivable initially are recorded at the transaction amount, and recorded after the Company has an unconditional right to payment where only the passage of time is required before payment is received. Each reporting period, the Company evaluates the collectability of outstanding receivable balances and records an allowance for doubtful accounts representing an estimate of probable losses. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are made by recording a charge to bad debt expense reported in costs of services provided. Notes receivable are initially recorded when accounts receivable are transferred into a promissory note. Notes receivable are recorded as an alternative to accounts receivable to memorialize an unqualified promise to pay a specific sum, typically with interest, in accordance with a defined payment schedule.
Inventories and Supplies	Inventories and supplies include housekeeping, linen and laundry supplies, as well as food provisions and supplies. Non-linen inventories and supplies are stated at cost to approximate a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Linen supplies are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life of 24 months.
Revenue Recognition	The Company recognizes revenue from service agreements with customers when or as the promised goods and services are provided to customers. Revenues are reported net of sales taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to taxing authorities. The guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) became effective and was adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2018, by applying the modified retrospective method for contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. The standard requires the Company to recognize revenue as the promised goods and services within the terms of the Company’s contracts are performed and satisfied. The amount of revenue which the Company recognizes is based on the consideration which the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for contracted promised goods and services. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to the Company's accounting for revenue earned relating to the Housekeeping and Dietary segments. The Company also did not recognize an opening adjustment to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of the standard.
Income Taxes	The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current period. The Company accrues for probable tax obligations as required by facts and circumstances in various regulatory environments. In addition, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. When appropriate, valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts for which realization is more likely than not. Uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns are reflected within the Company’s financial statements based on a recognition and measurement process.
Earnings per Common Share	Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common shares, such as those issuable upon exercise of stock options and upon the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units.
Share-Based Compensation	The Company estimates the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model for stock options and using the share price on the date of grant for restricted stock and restricted stock units. The value of the award is recognized ratably as an expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income over the requisite service periods, with adjustments made for forfeitures as they occur.
Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill	Identifiable intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective lives. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets of acquired businesses. Management reviews the carrying value of goodwill at least annually during the fourth quarter of each year to assess for impairment, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may exceed its estimated fair value.
Concentrations of Credit Risk	The financial instruments that are subject to concentrations of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, deferred compensation funding and accounts and notes receivable. The Company’s marketable securities are fixed income investments which are highly liquid and can be readily purchased or sold through established markets. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were held in one large financial institution located in the United States. The Company’s clients are concentrated in the healthcare industry and are primarily providers of long-term care. The revenues of many of the Company’s clients are highly reliant on Medicare, Medicaid and third party payors’ reimbursement funding rates. New legislation or changes in existing regulations could directly impact the governmental reimbursement programs in which the clients participate. As a result, the Company may not know the full effects of such programs until these laws are fully implemented and governmental agencies issue applicable regulations or guidance.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on their balance sheet related to the rights and obligations created by most leases, while continuing to recognize expenses on their income statements over the lease term. It will also require disclosures designed to give financial statement users information regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company will adopt ASU 2016–02 as of January 1, 2019 and will apply certain practical expedients offered in the guidance, such as those that state that the Company need not reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases, reevaluate the classification of expired or existing leases, or reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Management has substantially completed the process of identifying existing lease contracts and is currently performing detailed evaluations of the leases under the new accounting requirements. The Company believes the most significant changes to the financial statements relate to the recognition of right–of–use assets and offsetting lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet for operating leases. The actual impact on the consolidated balance sheet will be contingent upon the Company's population of operating leases at adoption, however Management does not expect the standard to have a material impact on cash flows or results of operations. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 no longer requires companies to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure impairment, eliminating step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference of the carrying amount to the fair value of goodwill on a reporting unit basis. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, but early adoption is permitted. The Company has elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 for the annual evaluation which will be performed during the fourth quarter of 2018.
Reportable Operating Segments	The Company’s accounting policies for the segments are generally the same as described in the Company’s significant accounting policies. Differences between the reportable segments’ operating results and other disclosed data and the information in the consolidated financial statements relate primarily to corporate level transactions and recording of transactions at the reportable segment level using other than generally accepted accounting principles. There are certain inventories and supplies that are primarily expensed when incurred within the operating segments, while they are capitalized in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, most corporate expenses such as corporate salary and benefit costs, certain legal costs, bad debt expense, information technology costs, depreciation, amortization of finite-lived intangible assets, share based compensation costs and other corporate-specific costs, are not allocated to the operating segments. There are also allocations for workers’ compensation and general liability expense within the operating segments that differ from the actual expense recorded by the Company under U.S. GAAP. Segment amounts disclosed are prior to elimination entries made in consolidation.

Accounts and Notes Receivable (

Accounts and Notes Receivable (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Receivables [Abstract]
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable	The Company’s accounts and notes receivable balances consisted of the following as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Short-term Accounts and notes receivable $ 392,114 $ 390,705 Allowance for doubtful accounts (38,630 ) (11,985 ) Total net short-term accounts and notes receivable 353,484 378,720 Long-term Notes receivable 55,906 15,476 Allowance for doubtful accounts (10,000 ) — Total net long-term notes receivable 45,906 15,476 Total net accounts and notes receivable $ 399,390 $ 394,196

Changes in Accumulated Other _2

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The following table provides a summary of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 : Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities (1) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) — beginning balance $ 837 $ (319 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications (1,694 ) 1,162 Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income (2) 145 1 Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income (3) (1,549 ) 1,163 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income — ending balance $ (712 ) $ 844 (1) All amounts are net of tax. (2) Realized losses were recorded pre-tax under “Other income, net - Investment and interest” in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the Company recorded $0.2 million and less than $0.1 million of realized losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities, respectively. Refer to Note 8—Fair Value Measurements herein for further information. (3) For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the changes in other comprehensive (loss) income were net of a tax benefit of $0.3 million and an expense of $0.6 million , respectively.
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 2018 2017 (in thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, (Losses) gains from the sale of available-for-sale securities $ (24 ) $ 171 Tax benefit (expense) 5 (54 ) Net (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income $ (19 ) $ 117 Nine Months Ended September 30, Losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities $ (180 ) $ (2 ) Tax benefit 35 1 Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income $ (145 ) $ (1 )

Property and Equipment (Tables)

Property and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	The following table sets forth the amounts of property and equipment by each class of depreciable asset as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Housekeeping and Dietary equipment $ 22,177 $ 22,349 Computer hardware and software 11,955 12,665 Other (1) 949 990 Total property and equipment, at cost 35,081 36,004 Less accumulated depreciation 22,014 22,495 Total property and equipment, net $ 13,067 $ 13,509 (1) Includes furniture and fixtures, leasehold improvements and autos and trucks.

Other Intangible Assets (Tables

Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Estimated Amortization Expense For Intangibles Subject To Amortization	The following table sets forth the estimated amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization for the remainder of 2018 , the following five fiscal years and thereafter: Period/Year Total Amortization Expense (in thousands) October 1 to December 31, 2018 $ 1,043 2019 $ 4,165 2020 $ 4,165 2021 $ 4,165 2022 $ 4,165 2023 $ 3,168 Thereafter $ 6,688

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	The following tables provide fair value measurement information for the Company’s marketable securities and deferred compensation fund investments as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 : As of September 30, 2018 Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Amount Total Fair Value Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) (in thousands) Financial Assets: Marketable securities Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 74,704 $ 74,704 $ — $ 74,704 $ — Deferred compensation fund Money Market (1) $ 2,964 $ 2,964 $ — $ 2,964 $ — Balanced and Lifestyle 9,054 9,054 9,054 — — Large Cap Growth 9,714 9,714 9,714 — — Small Cap Growth 4,015 4,015 4,015 — — Fixed Income 3,362 3,362 3,362 — — International 1,627 1,627 1,627 — — Mid Cap Growth 2,210 2,210 2,210 — — Deferred compensation fund $ 32,946 $ 32,946 $ 29,982 $ 2,964 $ — As of December 31, 2017 Fair Value Measurement Using: Carrying Total Fair Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) (in thousands) Financial Assets: Marketable securities Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 73,221 $ 73,221 $ — $ 73,221 $ — Deferred compensation fund Money Market (1) $ 2,720 $ 2,720 $ — $ 2,720 $ — Balanced and Lifestyle 8,523 8,523 8,523 — — Large Cap Growth 7,802 7,802 7,802 — — Small Cap Growth 3,442 3,442 3,442 — — Fixed Income 3,050 3,050 3,050 — — International 1,531 1,531 1,531 — — Mid Cap Growth 1,817 1,817 1,817 — — Deferred compensation fund $ 28,885 $ 28,885 $ 26,165 $ 2,720 $ — (1) The fair value of the money market fund is based on the net asset value (“NAV”) of the shares held by the plan at the end of the period. The money market fund includes short-term United States dollar denominated money market instruments and the NAV is determined by the custodian of the fund. The money market fund can be redeemed at its NAV at the measurement date as there are no significant restrictions on the ability to sell this investment.
Marketable Debt Securities	Amortized Cost Gross Unrealized Gains Gross Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Other-than-temporary Impairments (in thousands) September 30, 2018 Type of security: Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 75,606 $ 169 $ (1,071 ) $ 74,704 $ — Total debt securities $ 75,606 $ 169 $ (1,071 ) $ 74,704 $ — December 31, 2017 Type of security: Municipal bonds — available-for-sale $ 72,249 $ 1,169 $ (197 ) $ 73,221 $ — Total debt securities $ 72,249 $ 1,169 $ (197 ) $ 73,221 $ —
Contractual Maturities of Available for Sale Investments	The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of debt securities held at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , which are classified as marketable securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: Municipal Bonds — Available-for-Sale Contractual maturity: September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 (in thousands) Maturing in one year or less $ 928 $ 916 Maturing in second year through fifth year 20,688 15,948 Maturing in sixth year through tenth year 18,515 22,851 Maturing after ten years 34,573 33,506 Total debt securities $ 74,704 $ 73,221

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Expense	The components of the Company’s stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) Stock options $ 2,231 $ 2,885 Restricted stock and restricted stock units 1,943 888 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 432 365 Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income (1) $ 4,606 $ 4,138 (1) Stock-based compensation expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Summary of Other Information of Stock Option Plans	A summary of stock options outstanding under the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows: Stock Options Outstanding Number of Shares Weighted Average Exercise Price (in thousands) December 31, 2017 2,374 $ 29.22 Granted 169 $ 52.06 Exercised (262 ) $ 26.07 Forfeited (60 ) $ 35.45 Expired (4 ) $ 25.41 September 30, 2018 2,217 $ 31.17
Assumption For Fair Value of Options Granted	The fair value of stock option awards granted in 2018 and 2017 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 2.1 % 2.0 % Weighted average expected life 5.8 years 5.8 years Expected volatility 21.4 % 25.1 % Dividend yield 1.5 % 1.9 %
Summarized Information of Stock Options Outstanding	The following table summarizes other information about the stock options at September 30, 2018 : September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands, except per share data) Outstanding: Aggregate intrinsic value $ 22,856 Weighted average remaining contractual life 6.1 years Exercisable: Number of options 1,141 Weighted average exercise price $ 24.98 Aggregate intrinsic value $ 17,837 Weighted average remaining contractual life 4.7 years
Schedule of Restricted Stock Outstanding Stock-based Compensation	A summary of the outstanding restricted stock units and restricted stock as of December 31, 2017 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows: Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Number Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in thousands) December 31, 2017 145 $ 37.07 Granted 139 $ 52.06 Vested (36 ) $ 35.79 Forfeited (5 ) $ 52.06 September 30, 2018 243 $ 45.55
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Valuation Assumptions	The expense associated with the options granted under the ESPP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following assumptions: Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 Risk-free interest rate 1.89% 1.05% Weighted average expected life (years) 1.0 1.0 Expected volatility 20.8% 21.2% Dividend yield 1.4% 1.9%
Schedule of Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Share-based Payments	The following table summarizes information about the SERP during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 : Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 (in thousands) SERP expense (1) $ 490 $ 460 Unrealized gain recorded in SERP liability account $ 2,692 $ 3,375 (1) Both the SERP match and the deferrals are included in the selling, general and administrative caption in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Dividends (Tables)

Dividends (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Dividends Payable	During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company paid regular quarterly cash dividends totaling approximately $42.7 million as follows: Quarter Ended March 31, 2018 June 30, 2018 September 30, 2018 (in thousands, except per share data) Cash dividend paid per common share $ 0.19125 $ 0.19250 $ 0.19375 Total cash dividends paid $ 14,149 $ 14,249 $ 14,350 Record date February 16, 2018 May 25, 2018 August 24, 2018 Payment date March 23, 2018 June 29, 2018 September 28, 2018
Schedule of Dividends Payable on Outstanding Weighted Average Number of Basic Common Shares	Cash dividends declared for the periods presented were as follows: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.19500 $ 0.19000 $ 0.58125 $ 0.56625

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Information of Reportable Segments	Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (in thousands) Revenues Housekeeping $ 242,208 $ 247,395 $ 734,164 $ 733,737 Dietary 264,663 243,960 778,249 632,984 Total $ 506,871 $ 491,355 $ 1,512,413 $ 1,366,721 Income before income taxes Housekeeping $ 27,206 $ 26,848 $ 85,221 $ 71,524 Dietary 16,279 11,366 46,580 34,733 Corporate and eliminations (1) (10,503 ) (5,284 ) (66,898 ) (7,970 ) Total $ 32,982 $ 32,930 $ 64,903 $ 98,287 (1) Primarily represents corporate office costs and related overhead, recording of certain inventories and supplies and workers compensation costs at the reportable segment level which use accounting methods that differ from those used at the corporate level, as well as consolidated subsidiaries’ operating expenses that are not allocated to the reportable segments, net of investment and interest income. It is also inclusive of charges recorded to provision to bad debt during the first quarter of 2018 as a result of restructuring events primarily from two customers that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . No such charges were recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2018 .

Earnings Per Common Share (Tabl

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares	The table below reconciles the weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 (in thousands) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic 74,019 73,461 73,972 73,272 Effect of dilutive securities (1) 560 1,077 626 980 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 74,579 74,538 74,598 74,252 (1) Certain outstanding equity awards are anti-dilutive and were therefore excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , stock options to purchase 0.6 million shares having a weighted average exercise price of $42.79 and $42.70 per share, respectively, were excluded. During the three months ended September 30, 2017 , there were no anti-dilutive stock options, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , stock options to purchase 0.5 million shares having a weighted average exercise price of $39.38 per share were excluded. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , 0.1 million restricted stock units were excluded. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , there were no anti-dilutive restricted stock units.

Description of Business and S_3

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)financial_institutionsegment	Dec. 31, 2017financial_institution
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Service term	1 year
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Amortization period of inventories and supplies	24 months
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | $	$ 0
Number of financial institutions holding cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | financial_institution	1	1
Minimum
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Days to notify cancellation of service	30 days
Initial period of service term	60 days
Maximum
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Days to notify cancellation of service	90 days
Initial period of service term	120 days

Revenue (Details)

Revenue (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 506,871,000	$ 491,355,000	$ 1,512,413,000	$ 1,366,721,000
Renewable service term period			1 year
Description of timing			The significant majority of the Company’s contracts with customers have an initial term of one year or less
Renewal term			1 year
Minimum agreement period for account of unsatisfied performance obligations			1 year
Housekeeping
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percent of revenue			48.50%	53.70%
Revenue	242,208,000	247,395,000	$ 734,164,000	$ 733,737,000
Dietary
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percent of revenue			51.50%	46.30%
Revenue	264,663,000	$ 243,960,000	$ 778,249,000	$ 632,984,000
Minimum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Cancellation notice period			30 days
Initial period preceding cancellation notice			60 days
Maximum
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Cancellation notice period			90 days
Initial period preceding cancellation notice			120 days
Transferred at Point in Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract liabilities	0		$ 0		$ 0
Transferred over Time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Contract liabilities	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0

Revenue - Remaining Performance

Revenue - Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) - Transferred over Time $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2018-10-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 67.9
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period	3 months
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2019-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 271.7
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2020-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 271.7
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 271.7
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2022-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 271.7
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period	1 year
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2023-01-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 339.6
Revenue, remaining performance obligation period

Accounts and Notes Receivable -

Accounts and Notes Receivable - Schedule of Accounts and Notes Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Short-term
Accounts and notes receivable	$ 392,114	$ 390,705
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(38,630)	(11,985)
Total net short-term accounts and notes receivable	353,484	378,720
Long-term
Notes receivable	55,906	15,476
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(10,000)	0
Total net long-term notes receivable	45,906	15,476
Total net accounts and notes receivable	$ 399,390	$ 394,196

Accounts and Notes Receivable_2

Accounts and Notes Receivable - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)operator	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Receivables [Abstract]
Number of corporate-restructured operators | operator	2
Accounts and notes receivable reclassified from current to noncurrent	$ 24,800
Allowance for doubtful accounts		$ 10,000	$ 0
Financing receivable		$ 66,500	$ 36,600

Allowance for Doubtful Accoun_2

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018operator	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Receivables [Abstract]
Bad debt provision | $		$ 42,387	$ 4,000
Number of corporate-restructured operators | operator	2

Changes in Accumulated Other _3

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Beginning balance			$ 399,952
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications			(1,694)	$ 1,162
Losses reclassified from other comprehensive income			145	1
Net current period change in other comprehensive (loss) income			(1,549)	1,163
Ending balance	$ 419,580		419,580
Gains (losses) from the sale of available-for-sale securities	(100)	$ 200	(200)	(100)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss), tax (benefit) expense			(300)	600
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of taxes
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Beginning balance			837	(319)
Ending balance	$ (712)	$ 844	$ (712)	$ 844

Changes in Accumulated Other _4

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component - Reclassification Adjustments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Tax benefit (expense)	$ 6,896	$ 9,458	$ 12,931	$ 30,247
Net (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	26,086	23,472	51,972	68,040
Realized Gains (Losses) on Sale of Available-for-sale Securities | Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
(Losses) gains from the sale of available-for-sale securities	(24)	171	(180)	(2)
Tax benefit (expense)	5	(54)	35	1
Net (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	$ (19)	$ 117	$ (145)	$ (1)

Property and Equipment (Details

Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment, at cost	$ 35,081		$ 35,081		$ 36,004
Less accumulated depreciation	22,014		22,014		22,495
Total property and equipment, net	13,067		13,067		13,509
Depreciation	1,100	$ 1,100	3,700	$ 3,700
Housekeeping and Dietary equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment, at cost	22,177		22,177		22,349
Computer hardware and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment, at cost	11,955		11,955		12,665
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment, at cost	$ 949		$ 949		$ 990

Other Intangible Assets - Addit

Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 1.1	$ 1	$ 3.3	$ 2.7
Customer Relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Useful life			10 years

Other Intangible Assets - Estim

Other Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense For Intangibles Subject To Amortization (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
October 1 to December 31, 2018	$ 1,043
2,019	4,165
2,020	4,165
2,021	4,165
2,022	4,165
2,023	3,168
Thereafter	$ 6,688

Fair Value Measurements - Addit

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of taxes	$ (508)	$ 82	$ (1,549)	$ 1,163
Proceeds from available for sale municipal bonds	2,900	5,700	8,706	20,354
Gains (losses) from the sale of available-for-sale securities	$ (100)	$ 200	$ (200)	$ (100)

Fair Value Measurements - Marke

Fair Value Measurements - Marketable Securities and Deferred Compensation Fund Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	$ 74,704	$ 73,221
Deferred compensation fund	32,946	28,885
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	29,982	26,165
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,964	2,720
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	32,946	28,885
Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	32,946	28,885
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	74,704	73,221
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	0	0
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	74,704	73,221
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	0	0
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	74,704	73,221
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities	74,704	73,221
Money Market | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Money Market | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,964	2,720
Money Market | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Money Market | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,964	2,720
Money Market | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,964	2,720
Balanced and Lifestyle | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,054	8,523
Balanced and Lifestyle | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Balanced and Lifestyle | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Balanced and Lifestyle | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,054	8,523
Balanced and Lifestyle | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,054	8,523
Large Cap Growth | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,714	7,802
Large Cap Growth | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Large Cap Growth | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Large Cap Growth | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,714	7,802
Large Cap Growth | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	9,714	7,802
Small Cap Growth | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	4,015	3,442
Small Cap Growth | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Small Cap Growth | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Small Cap Growth | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	4,015	3,442
Small Cap Growth | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	4,015	3,442
Fixed Income | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	3,362	3,050
Fixed Income | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Fixed Income | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Fixed Income | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	3,362	3,050
Fixed Income | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	3,362	3,050
International | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	1,627	1,531
International | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
International | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
International | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	1,627	1,531
International | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	1,627	1,531
Mid Cap Growth | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,210	1,817
Mid Cap Growth | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Mid Cap Growth | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	0	0
Mid Cap Growth | Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	2,210	1,817
Mid Cap Growth | Total Fair Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation fund	$ 2,210	$ 1,817

Fair Value Measurements - Mar_2

Fair Value Measurements - Marketable Debt Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 75,606	$ 72,249
Gross Unrealized Gains	169	1,169
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,071)	(197)
Estimated Fair Value	74,704	73,221
Other-than-temporary Impairments	0	0
Municipal bonds — available-for-sale
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	75,606	72,249
Gross Unrealized Gains	169	1,169
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,071)	(197)
Estimated Fair Value	74,704	73,221
Other-than-temporary Impairments	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements - Contr

Fair Value Measurements - Contractual Maturities of Debt Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Maturing in one year or less	$ 928	$ 916
Maturing in second year through fifth year	20,688	15,948
Maturing in sixth year through tenth year	18,515	22,851
Maturing after ten years	34,573	33,506
Total debt securities	$ 74,704	$ 73,221

Stock-Based Compensation - Summ

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income	$ 4,606	$ 4,138
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income	2,231	2,885
Restricted stock and restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income	1,943	888
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense charged against income	$ 432	$ 365

Stock-Based Compensation - Addi

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 15.3
Period of expense of unrecognized compensation cost, years	2 years 8 months
Common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares)	2,900,000
Shares available for future grant (in shares)	500,000
Maximum term of grants	10 years
Options vested and exercisable, period	5 years
Weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 10.48	$ 8.52
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 5.9	$ 13.3
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized for issuance (in shares)	1,000,000
Remaining shares authorized for issuance (in shares)	400,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	139,000	88,000
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock granted (in dollars per share)	$ 52.06	$ 40.16
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	0	0
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for future grant (in shares)	2,300,000
Average weekly hours of work	20 hours
Requisite service period for plan participation eligibility	2 years
Stock options authorized to issue to employees (in shares)	4,100,000

Stock-Based Compensation - Su_2

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding (Details) shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018$ / sharesshares
Number of Shares
December 31, 2017 (in shares) | shares	2,374
Granted (in shares) | shares	169
Exercised (in shares) | shares	(262)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(60)
Expired (in shares) | shares	(4)
September 30, 2018 (in shares) | shares	2,217
Weighted Average Exercise Price
December 31, 2017 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 29.22
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	52.06
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	26.07
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	35.45
Expired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	25.41
September 30, 2018 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 31.17

Stock-Based Compensation - Assu

Stock-Based Compensation - Assumptions for Fair Value of Options Granted (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Risk-free interest rate	2.10%	2.00%
Weighted average expected life	5 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 9 months 18 days
Expected volatility	21.40%	25.10%
Dividend yield	1.50%	1.90%

Stock-Based Compensation - Su_3

Stock-Based Compensation - Summarized Information About Stock Awards (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Outstanding:
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 22,856
Weighted average remaining contractual life	6 years 1 month
Exercisable:
Number of options (in shares) | shares	1,141
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 24.98
Aggregate intrinsic value	$ 17,837
Weighted average remaining contractual life	4 years 8 months

Stock-Based Compensation - Su_4

Stock-Based Compensation - Summary of Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock (Details) - Restricted stock and restricted stock units shares in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018$ / sharesshares
Number
December 31, 2017 (in shares) | shares	145
Granted (in shares) | shares	139
Vested (in shares) | shares	(36)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(5)
September 30, 2018 (in shares) | shares	243
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
December 31, 2017 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 37.07
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	52.06
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	35.79
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	52.06
September 30, 2018 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 45.55

Stock-Based Compensation - As_2

Stock-Based Compensation - Assumptions For Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	2.10%	2.00%
Weighted average expected life (years)	5 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 9 months 18 days
Expected volatility	21.40%	25.10%
Dividend yield	1.50%	1.90%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	1.89%	1.05%
Weighted average expected life (years)	1 year	1 year
Expected volatility	20.80%	21.20%
Dividend yield	1.40%	1.90%

Stock-Based Compensation - Defe

Stock-Based Compensation - Deferred Compensation Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
SERP expense	$ 4,606	$ 4,138
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
SERP expense	490	460
Unrealized gain recorded in SERP liability account	$ 2,692	$ 3,375

Dividends - Additional Informat

Dividends - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Oct. 16, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Dividends paid		$ 14,350	$ 14,249	$ 14,149		$ 42,748	$ 41,302
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)		$ 0.19500			$ 0.19000	$ 0.58125	$ 0.56625
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.195000

Dividends - Schedule of Dividen

Dividends - Schedule of Dividends (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividend paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19375	$ 0.19250	$ 0.19125
Total cash dividends paid	$ 14,350	$ 14,249	$ 14,149	$ 42,748	$ 41,302

Dividends - Cash Dividends per

Dividends - Cash Dividends per Common Share (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19500	$ 0.19000	$ 0.58125	$ 0.56625

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Tax benefit (expense)	$ 6,896	$ 9,458	$ 12,931	$ 30,247
Tax impact of share-based awards			1,200
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 0		$ 0
Minimum | Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Effective tax rate					21.00%
Maximum | Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Effective tax rate					23.00%

Segment Information - Schedule

Segment Information - Schedule of Information of Reportable Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)segment	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 506,871	$ 491,355	$ 1,512,413	$ 1,366,721
Income before income taxes	32,982	32,930	64,903	98,287
Corporate and eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	(10,503)	(5,284)	(66,898)	(7,970)
Housekeeping
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	242,208	247,395	734,164	733,737
Housekeeping | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	27,206	26,848	85,221	71,524
Dietary
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	264,663	243,960	778,249	632,984
Dietary | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ 16,279	$ 11,366	$ 46,580	$ 34,733

Earnings Per Common Share - Com

Earnings Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	74,019	73,461	73,972	73,272
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	560	1,077	626	980
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	74,579	74,538	74,598	74,252

Earnings Per Common Share - Add

Earnings Per Common Share - Additional Information (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)		0
Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)	600,000		600,000	500,000
Antidilutive securities excluded from earnings per share, average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 42.79		$ 42.70	$ 39.38
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per common share (in shares)	100,000	0	100,000	0

Other Contingencies (Details)

Other Contingencies (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)financial_covenant	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Bank line of credit	$ 300,000,000
Borrowings under line of credit	$ 9,959,000	$ 35,382,000
Number of financial covenants | financial_covenant	1
Reduction of bank line of credit	$ 65,900,000
Amount available under line of credit	224,200,000
Standby Letter Of Credit
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Irrevocable standby letter of credit, outstanding	$ 65,900,000
LIBOR
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	75.00%