Excerpt: As mass layoffs become more common, Nielsen [Business Media] is just one of the employers offering outplacement services to employees. Once thought of as a benefit for only top executives, today these services are mainstream, says Kevin Gagan, executive vice president in charge of strategy and practice development at Lee Hecht Harrison, a Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based provider of outplacement services. These offerings, which range from online-only services to face-to-face coaching, can cost anywhere from $1,000 to several tens of thousands of dollars per employee. But it appears that many employers believe in the return on investment. A recent Lee Hecht Harrison study of 1,000 HR executives found that the top reason their companies use outplacement is to maintain positive relationships with employees.