Many companies now have employee assistance programs that enable emplo

Ok, let's take a look at the passage before we dive into the answer choices.

The conclusion in this passage is that the employee assistance programs

benefit the company as well as the employee.

The evidence provided is that while the programs benefit the employee in various ways, they also "increase worker productivity, reduce absenteeism, and lessen insurance costs for employee health care."

This question asks us to find the answer choice that most strengthens the conclusion above. While you've asked if there's a better explanation besides POE, the explanation will be more clear if we can be sure why the other answers are not correct -- so let's take a look at each answer choice in turn.


We're interested in whether these programs provide a significant benefit to the companies that provide them as well as to the employees. We are not interested in which is the most popular service offered to employees.

(A) does not help strengthen the conclusion, so we can rule (A) out.


This doesn't help us strengthen the conclusion that these programs provide benefits for both the employees and the companies. All (B) tells us is that one of the programs is not effective for many people.

Giving us a downside of one particular program does not strengthen the conclusion -- (B) is out.


The program discussed in (C) clearly provides some benefits to the employee that takes part in that program -- they have more energy and a reduced risk of heart disease.

Any company employing this person will also benefit from their increased energy while they are working. The company is also less likely to have to manage a scenario in which the employee cannot work because they suffer from heart disease. This program clearly provides benefits to both the employee and the company.

(C) is looking good for now. Let's keep it while we examine (D) and (E).


This provides one potential negative of undertaking one of the programs mentioned in the passage. There is nothing in (D) that could be described as a benefit to the employee or to the company.

(D) does not provide anything that could strengthen the conclusion -- (D) is out.


(E) tells us that the companies will have to employ extra people to provide these programs for their employees. This is a cost to the company, rather than a benefit.

This weakens the conclusion, rather than strengthening it. We can rule (E) out.

We're left with (C) as the only answer left standing -- (C) is the answer to this question.

I hope that helps!