Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued Operations: On March 3, 2015, we divested several of our agent-based businesses, including our consumer- facing customer sales and lifecycle management, account services and receivables management businesses, for $275.0 million in cash. We completed the divestiture pursuant to a purchase agreement executed January 7, 2015 and in accordance with a plan approved by our Board of Directors on December 30, 2014. As a result of the sale, the related operating results for these businesses have been reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented and the related assets and liabilities were classified as held for sale and measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell at December 31, 2014. Unless otherwise stated, financial results discussed herein refer to continuing operations.
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts billed in advance of providing service are deferred and recorded as deferred revenue or other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet until service has been provided. Services in Unified Communications Services are generally billed, and revenue recognized on a per participant minute basis or, in the case of license arrangements, generally billed in advance and revenue recognized ratably over the service life period. We also charge clients for additional features, such as conference call recording, transcription services or professional services. Some Unified Communications Services revenue is recognized on a user or network circuit basis. Telecom services revenue is primarily comprised of switched access charges for toll-free origination services, which are paid primarily by interexchange carriers. Revenue is billed monthly and revenue recognized based on usage. Safety Services revenue is generated primarily from monthly fees, recognized as billed, based on the number of billing telephone numbers and cell towers covered under contract. In addition, product sales that may include hardware, software, and professional services (installation, training and project management) are generally recognized when shipment of the hardware and software has occurred and for professional services when client acceptance of a fully functional system is received. Contracts for annual recurring services such as support and maintenance agreements are generally billed in advance and are recognized as revenue ratably (on a monthly basis) over the contractual periods. Services in Interactive Services are generally billed, and revenue recognized, on a per call, per message or per minute basis, or in the case of subscription arrangements, generally billed in advance and revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. Services in Specialized Agent Services are generally billed based on hours of input, number of contacts, number of personnel assigned, on a contingent basis or recognized in the month collection payments are received based upon a percentage of cash collected or other agreed upon contractual parameters. Revenue for healthcare advocacy services is generally based on “Per Employee Per Month” fees charged under prepayment agreements for services and is recognized ratably over the service period.
Cost of Services	Cost of Services: Cost of services includes labor, sales commissions, telephone and other expenses directly related to service activities.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of expenses that support the ongoing operation of our business. These expenses include costs related to division management, facilities costs, depreciation, maintenance, amortization of finite-lived intangible assets, sales and marketing activities, client support services, bad debt expense and corporate management costs.
Other Income (Expense)	Other Income (Expense): Other income (expense) includes interest expense from borrowings under credit facilities, interest income from short-term investments, investment gains or losses in the assets held in our deferred compensation plans and foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on affiliate transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency. In 2016 and 2015, other income (expense) included transition service agreements revenue and expense related to the divestiture of certain of our agent businesses as well as rental income from the buyer of our divested businesses.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents: We consider short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less at acquisition to be cash equivalents.
Trust and Restricted Cash	Trust and Restricted Cash: Trust cash represents cash collected on behalf of our clients that has not yet been remitted to them. A related liability is recorded in accounts payable until settlement with the respective clients. Restricted cash primarily represents cash held as collateral for a workers’ compensation policy.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments: Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are short-term in nature and the net values at which they are recorded are considered to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.
Accounts Receivable	Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable from customers is presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.
Deferred Expenses	Deferred Expenses: Deferred expenses relate to costs incurred to fulfill contract obligations before the related services or goods are transferred to the customer. These costs are primarily for prepayments for services to support future revenue streams and include web collaboration services, prepaid service contracts and prepaid video hosting services. They also include customer set-up costs. These costs are expensed as the associated obligation is fulfilled and the associated revenue recognized.
Assets Held for Sale	Assets Held for Sale: On June 21, 2016, we completed the sale of land, buildings and improvements which were previously classified as held for sale and primarily used by the agent-based businesses we divested in 2015. Proceeds from the sale were $38.8 million, excluding related expenses. In connection with this sale, we realized a pre-tax gain of approximately $19.0 million. We also entered into a 12-year leaseback agreement for one of the buildings. This lease is classified as an operating lease and the related $5.2 million gain, included in the $19.0 million realized gain, is being deferred and will be recognized over the lease term. The recognized gains are included in selling general and administrative expense.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation expense is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets or remaining lease terms, whichever is shorter, and is calculated on the straight-line method. Our owned buildings have estimated useful lives ranging from 20 to 39 years and the majority of the other assets have estimated useful lives of three to five years. We review property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Recoverability of an asset “held-for-use” is determined by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the asset. If the carrying amount is greater than the undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, the asset’s carrying amount is reduced to its fair value.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Intangible Assets: Management is required to exercise significant judgment in valuing the acquisitions in connection with the initial purchase price allocation and the ongoing evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment. The purchase price allocation process requires estimates and judgments as to certain expectations and business strategies. If the actual results differ from the assumptions and judgments made, the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis in the fourth quarter or more frequently if we believe indicators of impairment exist. Goodwill of a reporting unit is tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. At December 31, 2016, our reporting units were our five operating segments. The performance of the impairment test involves a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their aggregate carrying values, including goodwill. We determine the fair value of our reporting units using the weighted-average results of an income approach (discounted cash flow methodology) and market approach. The discounted cash flow methodology requires us to make key assumptions such as projected future cash flows, growth rates, terminal value and a weighted-average cost of capital. The market approach requires the formulation of valuation multiples derived from the financial data and share trading prices of publicly traded companies which we consider comparable to West Corporation and applicable reporting units. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of impairment loss. There were no impairments in 2016 or 2015 as the fair value exceeded the carrying value for each of our reporting units. Our finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Estimated useful lives are reviewed annually. Our finite-lived intangible assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances such as reductions in demand or significant economic slowdowns are present on intangible assets used in operations that may indicate the carrying amount is not recoverable. Reviews are performed to determine whether the carrying value of an asset is recoverable, based on comparisons to undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable, the impaired asset is written down to fair value. There were no impairments of our finite-lived intangible assets in 2016 or 2015.
Other Assets	Other Assets: Other assets primarily include assets held in non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and the unamortized balance of internally developed capitalized software and licensing agreements. The assets held in the non-qualified deferred compensation plans represent mutual funds invested in debt and equity securities and are classified as trading securities as employees have the ability to change the investment allocation of their deferred compensation at any time. These investments are reported at fair value with unrealized gains (losses) of $2.7 million, ($1.3) million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, recognized currently within other income. The underlying obligation, recorded in other liabilities, is likewise reported at the investments’ fair value with adjustments recognized currently within compensation expense. Both the investments and the obligations are classified as non-current.
Deferred Revenue	Deferred Revenue: Deferred revenue includes receipts from customers primarily for web collaboration service licenses, video hosting services and installation fees in the Unified Communications Services reportable segment, annual subscription fees in the education vertical in the Interactive Services reportable segment and maintenance contracts in the Safety Services reportable segment. These receipts will be recognized as revenue over the life of the respective customer contracts. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 deferred revenue also included customer deposits of $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes: We file a consolidated United States income tax return. We use an asset and liability approach for the financial reporting of income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Income tax expense has been provided on the portion of foreign source income that we have determined will be repatriated to the United States. We record uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process, whereby (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, we would recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
Other Long-Term Liabilities	Other Long-Term Liabilities: Other long-term liabilities include liabilities held in non-qualified deferred compensation plans of $ 65.7 million and $61.8 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, uncertain tax positions of $43.9 million and $45.0 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, non-current deferred revenue of $38.7 million and $60.0 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and other long-term liabilities of $21.0 million and $19.3 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss: Accumulated other comprehensive loss is composed of unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency translation adjustments arising from changes in exchange rates of our foreign subsidiaries. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet dates. The translation adjustment is included in comprehensive loss, net of related tax expense. Also, the gain or loss on the effective portion of cash flow hedges (i.e., change in fair value) is initially reported as a component of comprehensive loss. The remaining gain or loss is recognized in interest expense in the same period in which the cash flow hedge affects earnings. These are our only components of comprehensive loss.
Treasury Stock	Treasury Stock: We account for treasury stock under the cost method. Shares of common stock returned to, or repurchased by, the Company are recorded at cost and are included as a separate component of stockholders’ deficit. Under the cost method, the gross cost of the shares reacquired is charged to a contra equity account entitled treasury stock. The equity accounts that were credited for the original share issuance (common stock, additional paid-in capital, etc.) remain intact. When treasury stock is re-issued at a price lower than its cost, the difference is recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital to the extent that there are previously recorded gains to offset the losses. If there are no treasury stock gains in additional paid-in-capital, the losses upon re-issuance of treasury stock are recorded in retained deficit in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program in 2016 under which the Company may repurchase up to an aggregate of $75.0 million of its outstanding common stock. Purchases under the program may be made from time to time through open market purchases, block transactions or privately negotiated transactions. The Company expects to fund the program using its cash on hand and cash generated from operations. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice. During 2016, the Company purchased 1,000,000 shares of common stock through the open market for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $22.0 million.
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation: In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, we are required to recognize expense related to the fair value of employee stock option awards and to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of the award.
Dividend	Dividend: We funded the dividends paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014 with cash generated by our operations and we anticipate funding future dividends with cash generated by our operations. The declaration and payment of all future dividends, if any, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. The total dividends paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014 were approximately $74.7 million, $75.2 million and $75.7 million, respectively. On February 1, 2017, we announced a $0.225 per common share quarterly dividend. The dividend is payable March 2, 2017, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 21, 2017.
Public Offering	Public Offering: On March 18, 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 12,650,000 shares of common stock by certain of our existing stockholders at a public offering price of $30.75 per share, including 1,650,000 shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholders pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. We did not receive any proceeds for the shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholders. Concurrently with the closing of the offering, we repurchased 1,000,000 shares of common stock from the selling stockholders in a private transaction at $29.596875 per share, which was the purchase price at which the shares of common stock were sold to the public in the underwritten offering, less underwriting discounts and commissions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $29.6 million, which was funded with cash on hand. On June 24, 2015 and July 22, 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 7,000,000 and 200,000 shares of common stock, respectively, by certain of our existing stockholders at a public offering price of $30.75 per share, with the 200,000 shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholders pursuant to a partial exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. We did not receive any proceeds for the shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholders. Concurrent with the closing of the offering on June 24, 2015, we repurchased 1,000,000 shares of common stock from the selling stockholders in a private transaction at $30.36 per share, which was the purchase price at which the shares of common stock were sold to the public in the underwritten offering, less underwriting discounts and commissions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30.4 million, which was funded with cash on hand.
Foreign Currency and Translation of Foreign Subsidiaries	Foreign Currency and Translation of Foreign Subsidiaries: The functional currencies of the Company’s foreign operations are the respective local currencies. All assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal period-end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the fiscal period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity and other comprehensive income. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are recorded in the consolidated statements of income.
Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements—In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"). This ASU requires capitalized debt issuance costs to be presented as a reduction to the carrying value of debt instead of being classified as a deferred charge, as previously required. This ASU became effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016, and as a result have recast the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation. The adoption of this standard reduced previously presented other assets and long-term debt by $57.1 million each, based upon the balance of unamortized debt issuance costs relating to our senior secured term loan facilities and senior notes recorded as of December 31, 2015. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-017, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which changes the presentation of deferred income taxes in the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, deferred tax assets and liabilities will be classified as non-current in the balance sheet. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance allows for prospective or retrospective application and early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance as of April 1, 2016, and elected retrospective application recasting the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation. The adoption of this standard reduced previously presented accrued expenses and increased deferred income taxes by $1.7 million each, as of December 31, 2015.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). This update addresses the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in this update, annual or interim goodwill impairment tests are to be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, the income tax effects should be considered for any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The amendment also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. The amendment requires disclosure of the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. This amendment will be effective for us in January 2020. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows – Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments Credit Losses (Topic 230). The amendments in this update address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The amendments in this update should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. If it is impracticable to apply the amendments retrospectively for some of the issues, the amendments for those issues would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The amendments in this update will require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Adoption of this update is required through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained deficit as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The new guidance requires excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies to be recorded in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. In addition, cash flows related to excess tax benefits will no longer be separately classified as a financing activity apart from other income tax cash flows. The standard also allows us to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, clarifies that all cash payments made on an employee’s behalf for withheld shares should be presented as a financing activity on our consolidated cash flows statement, and provides an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. Under the new guidance, we have elected to change our forfeiture policy and have started to recognize forfeitures of awards as they occur beginning January 1, 2017. The change in forfeiture policy was adopted using a modified-retrospective transition method. We recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to increase retained deficit by $0.1 million upon transition on January 1, 2017. The impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements at the time of implementation is not material, however, the impact on our provision for income taxes in future periods will be dependent on the market price of our common stock on vesting dates of restricted stock awards compared to the fair value of those awards when they were granted. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update will increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), (“ASU 2014-09”) and has since modified the standard with ASU 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date. These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a comprehensive revenue measurement and recognition standard and expanded disclosure requirements. ASU 2014-09 becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, at which point we plan to adopt the standard. The new standard can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Preliminarily, we plan to adopt this accounting standard on a cumulative-effect method and we do not believe there will be a material impact to our revenues upon adoption. We are continuing to evaluate the impacts of our pending adoption of this standard and our preliminary assessments are subject to change.