Relocation, relocation, relocation

In the cooling housing market, relocating for a job can be a real deal-breaker for some prospective employees. USAToday has a vaguely depressing article about people who are really taking a beating because they can't unload their houses to accept a new job in another part of the country. Employers are also dealing with the results of the slowing real estate market, because it's harder to move your existing employees around.

In the war to recruit and retain top-tier talent, companies with robust telecommuting programs that allow people to be effective from where ever they may be could have a real advantage. Build in flexibility to accommodate new hire training -- for example, requiring new hires to be on-site for six months, and then allowing them to return to their home town. Use remote work arrangements to ease the transition from the old location to the new location -- allowing a transferred employee to work remotely for six months to allow her to settle affairs before making the move. These are smart strategies that work for the employer and employee.

And you might find that remote arrangements work so well there's no need to move after all.