Employers Spending More To Move Workers (Why?)
Consequences of the Bad Housing Market

Not surprising given that some are calling this the worse slump in the housing market since the Great Depression, many employees are reluctant to relocate for work. They are afraid they will have to take the proverbial bath if they are forced to sell their homes now.

In order to attract talent, and soften the blows to employees they want to move, more companies are paying for assistance with housing, reports USA Today. Fourteen percent of employers say they're more willing to pay to relocate new employees to their company's location this year compared with last year, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com and Apartments.com, conducted by Harris Interactive.

About 40% of employers claimed they'd be willing to offer more than $1,000; one-third said more than $2,500; and one in 10 said more than $10,000. Employers are also extending temporary housing allowances, allowing more telecommuting, or even buying employee homes as a last resort in some cases.

The bit about telecommuting is definitely a plus for the environment, since that means much less carbon emissions from transportation and maintenance of larger work environments. The troubles in the housing market underscore how important it is to save money with energy efficiency, as well as try to make your property stand out (by going green) if you are in the troubled market.