Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 292,654	$ 280,979
Operating expenses
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)	211,895	199,121
Selling, general and administrative	48,135	47,801
Depreciation and amortization	10,116	11,598
Restructuring charges, net	1,958	739
Impairment losses	1,800	230
Total operating expenses	273,904	259,489
Income from operations	18,750	21,490
Other income (expense)
Interest income	760	666
Interest expense	(1,098)	(1,380)
Other income, net	258	444
Total other income (expense)	(80)	(270)
Income before income taxes	18,670	21,220
Provision for income taxes	(1,853)	(9,849)
Net income	16,817	11,371
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(936)	(898)
Net income attributable to TeleTech stockholders	15,881	10,473
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8,751	5,091
Derivative valuation, gross	11,671	(2,287)
Derivative valuation, tax effect	(4,574)	830
Other	345	110
Total other comprehensive income	16,193	3,744
Total comprehensive income	33,010	15,115
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(948)	(951)
Comprehensive income attributable to TeleTech stockholders	$ 32,062	$ 14,164
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	56,493	57,190
Diluted	57,418	58,797
Net income per share attributable to TeleTech stockholders
Basic	$ 0.28	$ 0.18
Diluted	$ 0.28	$ 0.18