Companies built from the ground up to either include a remote workforce or to consist of nothing but remote employees … in other words, virtual enterprises … can save quite a bit compared to providing cubicles.

Saving quite a bit isn’t the same as free, though. Among the reasons: While the case law isn’t entirely settled, there’s a pretty good bet the employer is responsible for providing a safe work environment whether that work environment is on premises or in the home.

That’s why, if you plan to allow or encourage telecommuting of any kind, you must talk with HR.

According to the KJR Manifesto, relationships precede process (Guideline #4) — before employees can work together effectively they first have to establish trust.

That’s hard enough when employees work in the same locale. Such factors as working on different floors or for rival managers can be enough to prevent it.

It’s harder when there’s no face-to-face interaction, as is the case when some employees work remotely, or when the entire enterprise is virtual. While telepresence technologies have improved, web conferencing software like WebEx and GoToMeeting, Instant Messaging (a necessity, by the way), e-mail, shared files … even teleconferencing … aren’t remotely close