Released on = December 11, 2006, 6:22 am

Press Release Author = Halogen Software

Industry = Human Resources

Press Release Summary = New EPM offering makes it easy for organizations to
determine workforce potential, areas of retention risk and execute corporate
strategy

Press Release Body = For Immediate Release

Halogen Introduces Succession Planning and Greater Functionality With Employee
Performance Management Suite 8.0

New EPM offering makes it easy for organizations to determine workforce potential,
areas of retention risk and execute corporate strategy

OTTAWA, ON - December 11, 2006 - Halogen Software Inc., the industry recognized
leader in providing Web-based employee performance management (EPM) solutions, today
announced the release of Halogen Employee Performance Management Suite 8.0. This
most recent offering includes numerous upgrades designed to make the solution easier
to use while offering organizations even greater tools to effectively execute
corporate strategy. Halogen EPM Suite 8.0 includes Halogen eSuccessionT a powerful
yet simple to use succession planning tool based on talent pools, a proven
best-practices approach. Halogen eSuccession eliminates the complexity and
limitations of org-chart, replacement-based systems allowing users to get started
right away without complex or excessive implementation overhead. This newest version
also includes global-usability improvements and numerous eCompensationT and
eAppraisalT Healthcare features.

Halogen eSuccession

As millions of baby boomers approach retirement, succession planning is becoming an
increasingly urgent business issue. William J. Rothwell, PhD, identifies the top
five benefits of succession planning in his book Effective Succession Planning as:

· Being able to provide increased opportunities for high-potential workers;
· Identifying justifiable training, employee education and development;
· Increasing the talent pool of promotable employees;
· Contributing to implementing the organization's strategic plan; and
· Helping individuals realize their career plans within the organization

Halogen eSuccession allows managers to achieve all of these key organizational
goals. The solution enables managers to understand their workforce's potential and
areas of retention risk, proactively develop employee performance and fulfill
succession requirements with the right candidates from talent pools of people ready
to meet the task head on.

"The aging workforce is a concern for all organizations. Our goal is to develop the
talent of our employees and to prepare them for advancement." said Debbie Clark,
senior HR generalist with Oil States International. "Halogen eSuccession is a means
to get everybody, from the top down, involved in the process of planning for our
organization's future."

Global usability improvements

Halogen applied a rigorous scientific approach to extend its leading edge in ease of
use and implementation. Halogen continues to push the usability envelope to further
reduce keystrokes, help users better understand how the system works and improve
ease of use. Greater ease of use, which has always been a Halogen strength,
increases employee engagement in the performance management process. The new design
is intuitive for users and enables them to get more out of the system.

"Halogen's continued focus on usability shows their ongoing commitment to excellence
in customer service," said Jim Frain, vice president of human resources with South
Bend Medical Foundation. " Halogen's improved interface enables our users to get the
most out of the solution in the shortest time possible."

"I appreciated being brought in early in the development of the system's interface.
The changes have addressed issues customers have raised and made the process even
smoother for the manager," said Heidi Metzler, HR projects manager with C-COR. "The
tasks that need to be accomplished are instantly and clearly displayed as soon as
the manager signs in."

Enhanced eAppraisal Healthcare functions

Halogen continues to develop powerful and practical features specifically for
healthcare providers. For instance, providers can store related documents such as
certificates, licenses, learning transcripts and even emails with their employee
appraisals; these can then be viewed instantly in a split screen. Also, new gap
analysis reports allow healthcare providers to compare various score reports with
performance targets. These most recent enhancements keep up with JCAHO
accreditation requirements and reduce the administration required to manage hundreds
or thousands of unique performance forms.

Greater eCompensation functions

Halogen eCompensation has new manager productivity tools that make the overall
process of determining appropriate compensation even easier and more flexible. These
improvements include:

· Incredibly flexible bonus profiles/calculator, which allows organizations to use
up to 12 metrics to define a bonus profile for an individual, a group or the
organization and to use more than one profile if needed;
· Improved graphical display of information including compa-ratios, percentage of
salary in range, etc.;
· Expanded merit matrix precision provides organizations with more precision to
reward high performers; and
· The system's ability to warn managers of or even refuse any adjustment outside set
parameters

Companies of all sizes achieve greater bottom-line results when performance is
linked to compensation and version 8.0 makes it easier than ever to align these
elements effectively.

About Halogen Software
With over 600 customers, Halogen Software Inc. has established itself as the leading
provider of employee performance management (EPM) solutions. Founded in 2001 as a
subsidiary of a successful consulting company, Halogen offers powerful, easy-to-use,
and affordable Web-based software that dramatically improves HR and line-manager
productivity. The company\'s flagship product, Halogen eAppraisalT, automates and
simplifies time-consuming employee appraisals. Halogen eAppraisalT Healthcare,
endorsed by the American Hospital Association, was created specifically for the
healthcare industry and helps to simplify the task of performing appraisals and
meeting accreditation criteria. Halogen e360T automates and simplifies formal
360-degree feedback procedures and offers sophisticated performance reporting.
Halogen eCompensationT automates the entire compensation adjustment process
including budget distribution and approval. Halogen eSuccessionT makes it simple and
affordable to get a best practices succession-planning program underway at your
organization. For further information please visit http://www.halogensoftware.com.

Media contacts
Donna Ronayne
VP, Marketing & Business Development
Halogen Software
T: 613-270-1011 x 320
E: dronayne@halogensoftware.com


Web Site = http://www.halogensoftware.com

Contact Details = Steven Reid
495 March Road
Ottawa , K2K 3G1
$$country

613-270-1011-254
sreid@halogensoftware.com
http://www.halogensoftware.com