Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 304,235	$ 271,005	$ 878,850	$ 814,458
Operating expenses
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)	220,795	193,996	630,274	586,808
Selling, general and administrative	43,445	40,572	138,529	123,721
Depreciation and amortization	11,807	12,452	34,828	38,122
Restructuring charges, net	1,616	3,579	2,298	6,352
Impairment losses	0	327	230	1,006
Total operating expenses	277,663	250,926	806,159	756,009
Income from operations	26,572	20,079	72,691	58,449
Other income (expense)
Interest income	896	571	2,282	1,631
Interest expense	(1,143)	(696)	(3,814)	(2,212)
Other income (expense), net	(386)	7,420	(647)	7,997
Total other income (expense)	(633)	7,295	(2,179)	7,416
Income before income taxes	25,939	27,374	70,512	65,865
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	496	(7,586)	(9,482)	(17,711)
Net income	26,435	19,788	61,030	48,154
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,064)	(1,118)	(2,969)	(2,795)
Net income attributable to TeleTech shareholders	$ 25,371	$ 18,670	$ 58,061	$ 45,359
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	56,476	59,808	56,790	60,926
Diluted	57,748	61,028	58,173	62,258
Net income per share attributable to TeleTech shareholders
Basic	$ 0.45	$ 0.31	$ 1.02	$ 0.74
Diluted	$ 0.44	$ 0.31	$ 1.00	$ 0.73