Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Shouldn't be a problem unless she asks to be paid by the hour. Yes, some internships pay.

Consider: Will she have access to the company server from a distance? Does she have the same programs on her computer at home? Can they be securely added to her computer without additional license cost? What sort of checks and balances will there be to assure you that she's working the amount of time (I'd be more concerned with projects getting done than the amount of time she's on a clock) she needs to get credit for the internship?

If you can iron out all that, go for it!

Michael

Part of the idea of an internship is that someone will mentor the intern, give them a sense of how the day-to-day activities support the strategy and feed into the mission. It's not impossible to do all of that by email, but it's not nearly as good as being in the same physical location and talking about why you're doing what you're doing, etc.

I'd be reluctant to have an intern who is just trying to get his/her ticket punched and doing everything remotely. I know that's old-school, but I don't know that I've ever heard of an [entirely] off-site intern.

Maybe you can negotiate a combination: at least 50% on-site, and the balance via email if/when convenient for both of you. Surely some tasks can be done off-site, and if the person is already familiar with the organization and the on-site stuff, then perhaps there's room for a compromise (on both your parts).

I sound like my grandmother, but in this day and age, everything is changing, so you have to keep up with the time. (Yikes!) In my interning days, I wouldn't dream of asking or expecting a telecommuting option. But if you are getting the labor (cheaply), and she's getting what she wants out of it...it should be workable.

I'd consider setting some boundaries, responsibilites, and schedules. For example, if she's paid hourly, do you want to set minimum or maximum number of hours per week? Might help you manage any padding of hours if you and she know what to expect. What about allowing the email setup, provided she does a weekly or biweekly telephone call to discuss status of her projects?

Oh, one more thing: you might want to consider whether everyone else on your team has the same priveleges. If not, it is probably wise to set a formal telecommuting policy for all staff and interns. We don't have one, and it's ruffled a few feathers. There are always people who cannot reasonably telecommute all the time (help desk, receptionists, etc.), but we'd save a lot of headaches and whining (seriously, if I hear it again, I will pull my hair out one by one) ...if we just set a formal policy and stuck to it.

Good luck! Cheap labor, small concessions, here and there, get some grunt work off your desk...I say long live the intern!