The correct answer is option (B)
Let us understand the passage:1.
The more frequently employees take time to exercise during working hours each week, the fewer sick days they take. i.e an employee who takes time to exercise 3 times a week takes lesser sick days than an employee who takes time to exercise say a time a week (More frequency, less sick days)
2.
Even employees who exercise only once a week during working hours take less sick time than those who do not exercise. i.e. even an employee who takes time out only once a week during work hours takes less sick days than one who does not exercise during work hours ( More frequency, less sick days - Frequency of even one has lesser sick days than zero frequency)
3.
Therefore, if companies started fitness programs, the absentee rate in those companies would decrease significantly.This is the conclusion of the passage.
If companies started fitness programs, absentee rate should reduce significantly.
Question: Find the weakener
Thought Process:What are the underlying assumptions made by the author? If we identify those, any statement that negates/counters those assumptions are good weakener statements.
Assumption 1: The employees who are absent regularly will join the fitness program. What if those employees who are frequently absent have no inclination to join the fitness program, for whatsoever reason. If so, then the absentee rate will not reduce significantly as the core absentees have not joined the program.
Assumption 2: The fitness program does not increase absenteeism due to some other inherent reason
For example, what if the course is not well designed for the fitness level of most of the employees? Then, it may happen that as a result of this program, a large number of employees suffer from issues such as burn out or injuries, which makes them take sick days. In such a case, again the program will not reduce the absentee rate significantly.
A good weakener could be any statement that will work against our assumptions.
(A) Employees who exercise during working hours occasionally fall asleep for short periods of time after they exercise.Falling asleep at work will not impact absentee rate, as the employee is present in office. Not a weakener (no impact on argument).
(B) Employees who are frequently absent are the least likely to cooperate with or join a cooperate fitness program.This works well against our assumption 1. If employees who are frequently absent do not participate in the program, then these employees would continue their absenteeism. So, even if the absentee rate reduces somewhat due to some people going through the program, it will not reduce significantly because the bulk of the employees who contribute most to absenteeism (frequently absent) are not participating in the program, and will continue the same level of absenteeism.
(C) Employees who exercise only once a week in their company's fitness program usually also exercise after work.Our conclusion is about all employees, not just those who exercise only once a week. So, definitely not a good weakener. Also, the fact that this group also does additional exercise does not necessarily imply that them working in office hours did not have an positive impact on the absentee rate. We cannot conclude that exercise at work is not effective based on this statement. So, another reason why this is not a correct weakener
.
(D) Employees who exercise in their company's fitness program use their working time no more productively than those who do not exercise.Irrelevant. Productivity during work hours has nothing to do with absenteeism due to sick days.
(E) Employees who exercise during working hour take slightly longer lunch breaks than employees who do not exercise.rrelevant. Productivity during work hours has nothing to do with absenteeism due to sick days.
Irrelevant. Extra lunch time during work hours has nothing to do with absenteeism due to sick days.
Cheers!