Except telecommuting someone you don't know is a HUGE risk. Hiring is an expensive, activity that doesn't reward taking risks.
We have one telecommute worker and he is about 60% as effective as he was onsite. That's somebody we had onsite for six months before he started telecommute. YMMV, but that's why companies don't like telecommuting.
It isn't that we have our heads in our asses, we just know it is a poor substitute for having you onsite and we avoid it if we can.
Sounds like a poor fit to me. I really wish more companies would consider the whole concept of satellite offices though. You could force them to work somewhere, so long as relocation isn't required.
Checks and balances.
That big grey area of not being able to stand over their shoulder to check productivity is tough. The least you can do to promote good work ethic is have them in a room with another team member.
We have one telecommute worker and he is about 60% as effective as he was onsite. That's somebody we had onsite for six months before he started telecommute. YMMV, but that's why companies don't like telecommuting.
It isn't that we have our heads in our asses, we just know it is a poor substitute for having you onsite and we avoid it if we can.