OI Partners Survey Reveals Employers Concerned about Retention and Employees Who Complain and Waste Time

---

NASHVILLE, TN—August 24, 2006—

Employees complain, waste too much time and abuse attendance policies too often, some HR professionals say. OI Partners, a global talent management and leadership solutions firm, talked to nearly 300 HR professionals attending the Annual Society for Human Resource Management Conference and Exposition on June 25 - 27, 2006, in Washington, D.C., to identify the greatest issues they are facing over the next 12 months. HR professionals said they are challenged with keeping good employees and finding talent to replace those who retire or leave their organization.

“As many baby boomers prepare for retirement, retention and succession planning has become a critical issue for thousands of organizations,” said Steve Harvey, OI Partners board chairman.

Survey respondents also said they wish employees in their company would stop doing the following:

1. Complaining / having a poor attitude (19.5% of respondents)
2. Wasting time (10%)
3. Abusing attendance policy (9%)
4. Looking for other jobs / leaving (8%)
5. Being complacent or having no enthusiasm for job (6%)

Other responses included:

• Blaming others / having no accountability
• Gossiping
• Having a sense of entitlement
• Lying
• Abusing email

Survey participants said the following issues most concern them and their business for the coming year (in order of importance):

1. Retaining top employees
2. Developing leaders & succession planning
3. Finding workers with the best skills
4. Containing benefits costs
5. Getting the most from human capital
6. HR playing a key role in developing business strategy
7. Handling generational differences in the workplace
8. Managing the virtual workforce
9. Outsourcing key business functions
10. Dealing with outplacement

In 2005, respondents also said retention and succession planning were most important to them.

About OI Partners

OI Partners is the talent management and leadership solutions firm that provides a better human experience for a better business outcome. Established in 1987, OI Partners Inc. is a corporation of leading career consulting, executive development, leadership development and outplacement professionals located in more than 180 locally-owned offices in 24 countries. For more information, please visit www.oipartners.net or call 800-232-5285.

Contact: Jill Van Nostran, 773-531-6968, jill@pro-prconsultant.com