ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 28, 2021 |
Feb. 29, 2020 |
Feb. 28, 2021 |
Feb. 29, 2020 |
Aug. 31, 2020 |
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| Foreign currency translation | |||||||||||
| Beginning balance | $ (942,967) | $ (1,170,245) | $ (1,010,279) | $ (1,207,975) | |||||||
| Foreign currency translation | 102,008 | (48,678) | 169,451 | (8,533) | |||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (2,464) | 43 | (1,151) | (1,221) | |||||||
| Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | (545) | 1,187 | (1,989) | 36 | |||||||
| Foreign currency translation, net of tax | 98,999 | (47,448) | 166,311 | (9,718) | |||||||
| Ending balance | (843,968) | (1,217,693) | (843,968) | (1,217,693) | |||||||
| Defined benefit plans | |||||||||||
| Beginning balance | (604,342) | (663,571) | (615,223) | (672,323) | |||||||
| Reclassifications into net periodic pension and post-retirement expense (1) | 13,742 | [1] | 13,828 | [1] | 27,337 | 26,612 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (3,476) | (4,011) | (6,178) | (8,032) | |||||||
| Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | (11) | (12) | (23) | (23) | |||||||
| Defined benefit plans, net of tax | 10,255 | 9,805 | 21,136 | 18,557 | |||||||
| Ending balance | (594,087) | (653,766) | (594,087) | (653,766) | |||||||
| Cash flow hedges | |||||||||||
| Beginning balance | 68,107 | 53,120 | 63,714 | 38,993 | |||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) | (35,026) | 38,155 | (9,662) | 76,563 | |||||||
| Reclassification adjustments into Cost of services | (14,391) | (18,796) | (35,286) | (38,815) | |||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | 8,882 | (3,987) | 8,811 | (8,231) | |||||||
| Portion attributable to noncontrolling interests | 45 | (18) | 40 | (36) | |||||||
| Cash flow hedges, net of tax | (40,490) | 15,354 | (36,097) | 29,481 | |||||||
| Ending balance (2) | [2] | 27,617 | 68,474 | 27,617 | 68,474 | ||||||
| Investments | |||||||||||
| Beginning balance | 0 | 728 | (49) | 728 | |||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) | 0 | 0 | (49) | 0 | |||||||
| Investments, net of tax | 0 | 0 | (49) | 0 | |||||||
| Ending balance | 0 | 728 | 0 | 728 | |||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ (1,410,438) | $ (1,802,257) | $ (1,410,438) | $ (1,802,257) | $ (1,561,837) | ||||||
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated unrealized gain (loss), after tax, on investments measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after tax, of accumulated unrealized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after tax, of accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated adjustment, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains or losses. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax, after reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for defined benefit plan, attributable to noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, attributable to noncontrolling interests. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after tax and reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for defined benefit plan. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after reclassification adjustment, of tax (expense) benefit for (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income of defined benefit plan. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income of accumulated gain (loss) realized from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax, of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for net period benefit cost (credit) of defined benefit plan. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of tax expense (benefit), before reclassification adjustments, related to increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before tax and adjustment, of unrealized holding gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Excludes unrealized gain (loss) on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity) from transfer to available-for-sale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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