QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (QUARTERLY FINANCIALS TABLE) (DETAILS) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) [ABSTRACT]
Sales Revenue Services Net	$ 344,947	$ 312,796	$ 305,105	$ 312,410	$ 341,816	$ 309,195	$ 310,223	$ 325,521	$ 1,275,258	$ 1,286,755	$ 1,241,781
Cost of services	(249,943)	(233,541)	(226,768)	(231,340)	(245,668)	(225,978)	(223,617)	(232,984)	(941,592)	(928,247)	(886,492)
Selling, general and administrative	(44,895)	(40,628)	(44,774)	(45,500)	(48,575)	(48,418)	(47,376)	(50,237)	(175,797)	(194,606)	(198,553)
Depreciation and amortization	(16,914)	(16,811)	(17,221)	(17,729)	(17,279)	(15,486)	(15,680)	(15,363)	(68,675)	(63,808)	(56,538)
Restructuring charges, net	(502)	(3,688)	(114)	(88)	(185)	(622)	(198)	(809)	(4,392)	(1,814)	(3,350)
Impairment losses	(26,448)	(5,602)	0	0	(5,034)	(3,066)	0	0	(32,050)	(8,100)	(373)
Income from operations	6,245	12,526	16,228	17,753	25,075	15,625	23,352	26,128	52,752	90,180	96,475
Other income (expense)	290	(690)	(734)	(1,320)	(590)	(1,995)	(18)	(1,688)	(2,454)	(4,291)	3,984
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(6,196)	813	(2,952)	(4,528)	(6,566)	(1,192)	(7,841)	(4,405)	(12,863)	(20,004)	(23,042)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(953)	(1,198)	(926)	(680)	(916)	(1,243)	(797)	(1,263)	(3,757)	(4,219)	(5,124)
Net income (loss) attributable to TeleTech stockholders	$ (614)	$ 11,451	$ 11,616	$ 11,225	$ 17,003	$ 11,195	$ 14,696	$ 18,772	$ 33,678	$ 61,666	$ 72,293
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	46,386	47,081	47,873	48,368	48,439	48,345	48,325	48,370	47,423	48,370	49,297
Diluted	46,677	47,315	48,221	48,746	48,853	48,936	49,064	49,158	47,736	49,011	50,102
Net income per share attributable to TeleTech stockholders
Basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.23	$ 0.35	$ 0.23	$ 0.30	$ 0.39	$ 0.71	$ 1.27	$ 1.47
Diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.23	$ 0.35	$ 0.23	$ 0.30	$ 0.38	$ 0.71	$ 1.26	$ 1.44