QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (QUARTERLY FINANCIALS TABLE) (DETAILS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) [ABSTRACT]
Revenue	$ 318,087	$ 296,995	$ 289,692	$ 288,383	$ 295,261	$ 286,268	$ 288,798	$ 292,654	$ 1,193,157	$ 1,162,981	$ 1,179,388
Cost of services	(220,942)	(208,648)	(208,809)	(208,232)	(212,021)	(201,766)	(209,121)	(211,895)	(846,631)	(834,803)	(848,362)
Selling, general and administrative	(51,343)	(50,165)	(46,168)	(45,747)	(44,945)	(43,845)	(45,709)	(48,135)	(193,423)	(182,634)	(188,802)
Depreciation and amortization	(12,783)	(11,463)	(11,263)	(10,555)	(10,126)	(10,695)	(10,229)	(10,116)	(46,064)	(41,166)	(44,889)
Restructuring charges, net	(254)	(758)	(2,572)	(851)	(2,181)	(2,440)	(16,296)	(1,958)	(4,435)	(22,875)	(3,651)
Impairment losses	0	0	(1,205)	0	0	(161)	(997)	(1,800)	(1,205)	(2,958)	(230)
Income from operations	32,765	25,961	19,675	22,998	25,988	27,361	6,446	18,750	101,399	78,545	93,454
Other income (expense)	(3,793)	(434)	(3,099)	(2,004)	(1,881)	(1,252)	(1,470)	(80)	(9,330)	(4,683)	(1,900)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	7,995	6,358	3,854	2,391	2,969	(3,611)	(1,272)	1,853	(20,598)	61	(13,279)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,508	1,526	407	642	756	1,291	925	936	(4,083)	(3,908)	(4,101)
Net income attributable to TeleTech stockholders	$ 19,469	$ 17,643	$ 12,315	$ 17,961	$ 20,382	$ 28,429	$ 5,323	$ 15,881	$ 67,388	$ 70,015	$ 74,174
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	50,439	50,732	51,861	52,347	53,262	54,093	55,125	56,493	51,338	54,738	56,669
Diluted	51,465	51,678	52,628	53,217	54,196	54,905	55,712	57,418	52,244	55,540	57,963
Net income per share attributable to TeleTech stockholders
Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.35	$ 0.24	$ 0.34	$ 0.38	$ 0.53	$ 0.10	$ 0.28	$ 1.31	$ 1.28	$ 1.31
Diluted	$ 0.38	$ 0.34	$ 0.23	$ 0.34	$ 0.38	$ 0.52	$ 0.10	$ 0.28	$ 1.29	$ 1.26	$ 1.28