Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 Expands Payroll Functionality to Further Support the Needs of Specific Industries

ST. PETERSBURG, FL--(Marketwire - August 4, 2008) - Sage Software announced today the launch of Sage Abra HRMS 8.4, the latest version of the company's Microsoft ® SQL Server-based human resource management system for mid-sized businesses and organizations in North America. The new U.S. payroll module includes expanded capabilities, like support for step rates and variable pay plans, to further support the payroll processing needs of U.S.-based businesses and organizations in such specific industries and categories as unions, manufacturing, government, and others. New veteran tracking capabilities help government agencies hiring veterans as federal contractors to comply with new reporting requirements, while new online recruitment functionality can help employers fill open positions more quickly.

"We continue to listen to our customers to ensure we are making the most relevant improvements," said Karl Grass, senior vice president and general manager for Employer Solutions at Sage Software. "The new Sage Abra Payroll module delivers enhanced payroll functionality for key markets, including union shops, manufacturing, government, education, and sales organizations. And, we continue to offer multiple database support, so users can choose the platform that works best for them."

With the addition of U.S. payroll, Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 now delivers a feature-rich, yet affordable, integrated HR/payroll system for U.S. organizations requiring or preferring an application that supports the Microsoft SQL Server database platform.

Payroll Processing

The new Sage Abra Payroll (U.S.) 8.4 module includes:

--  user-controlled HR/payroll data sharing
--  added functionality for accruals, shift differentials, and overtime
    calculations
--  support for variable pay plans, such as sales commissions, draws, and
    piece-rate production
--  support for step rates; and
--  an extended set of pay frequencies.
    

These enhancements support the payroll processing needs of businesses and organizations in manufacturing, services, retail, wholesale, financial, transportation, high-tech, government, education, construction, and agriculture.

Veteran Reporting

As a result of changes instituted by the Department of Labor's (DOL) agencies, Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA), Jobs for Veterans, and The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Sage Abra HRMS includes new functionality for the tracking of veteran reporting categories to accommodate the required annual reporting for federal contractors on or after December 1, 2003. A new VETS-100A form implements certain provisions of the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) and raises the VETS-100 reporting threshold from $25,000 to $100,000. Veteran reporting categories were also revised to match JVA changes.

Online Recruiting

Sage Abra's online recruiting module, Sage Abra eRecruiter, can help companies fill open positions faster. Sage Abra eRecruiter now identify applicants who do or do not meet job requirements, and filter EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) reports using "meet/does not meet" job requirement flags. New Veteran categories added to an applicant profile, and new Veterans category responses, now automatically transfer to Sage Abra HR at hire.

Sage Abra delivers tightly integrated functionality across HR, payroll, benefits, training, and attendance, with rich reporting and analysis, and a Web workforce portal with employee self-service, company communications, benefits enrollment, recruitment and more. The product line features support for multiple databases, with versions 8.x of Sage Abra HRMS supporting Microsoft SQL Server, and versions 7.x of Sage Abra Suite supporting Visual FoxPro. Customers also have the option to run Sage Abra HRMS or Sage Abra Suite either as a turn-key hardware/software solution or in a hosted environment.

Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 is available now from authorized Sage Software business partners. For more information about Sage Abra HRMS, please visit www.sageabra.com or call 800-424-9392.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.9 million small and medium-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services to small and medium-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage Group now has 5.7 million customers and employs over 14,800 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the web site at www.sagesoftware.com or call (866) 308-2378.

Contact Information: Press Contact: Cynthia Sutton Sage Software 703 793 2700 ext. 3032 cynthia.sutton@sage.com