The Wall Street Journal ran an article about the new style of telecommuting. Companies can install spyware on their employees’ computers. They randomly take screen shots. They count keystrokes.

The very idea sends chills down my spine. I’ve always been the kind of worker who works in spurts. I take lots of breaks. I take detours. I focus on meeting deadlines. And if I finish my work early, I want to take time off.

The hourly system penalizes efficiency and speed. It rewards those who are slow and methodical. I don’t quote hourly rates to my clients. And I don’t like paying anyone by the hour. It’s rarely necessary, although sometimes I am forced to follow convention.

What next…drug tests for online workers?

That’s why I like RentaCoder when I hire freelance designers. I get a quote for a job. Who cares if it takes an hour or 5 hours? All I care about are my results, delivered on time, with correctness and creativity.