One of the biggest threats to a company’s productivity is absenteeism.

Question

One of the biggest threats to a company's productivity is absenteeism. Studies have shown that companies with in-house child care programs see fewer absences among their employees who are parents than companies without such programs. Therefore, many companies could boost their productivity by starting in-house child care programs.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the above argument ?

A. Comanies that reiumburse outside child-care programs actually see less absenteeism among working parents than companies with in-house child-care programs.

B. In-house child-care programs create distractions for non-parents that can harm their productivity.

C. Absenteeism is not a serious problem for companies that impose harsh penalties on employees who miss work.

D. Studies have shown that employees with children are more likely than those without children to remain in the same job for more than 5 years.

E. Potential employees generally view companies with ub-house child-care programs as more desirable places to work than companies without such programs.

Source:   McGraw-Hill's GMAT  
Difficulty Level:   600

SUNILAA · Answer

B. In-house child-care programs create distractions for non-parents that can harm their productivity.

shuvodip04 · Answer

The argument mentions that presence of in house child care will increase the productivity.

The author draws his conclusion on the basis that presence of in house child care will lead to less absences by employees who are parents.

But what about the employees who are not parents if presence of child care somehow affects productivity of those without child or what if the parents become more distracted if they bring their child to work.In both the cases authors claim of increase in productivity will be negatively affected.

Hence option B.

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AkshdeepS · Answer

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the above argument ?

Conclusion: Many companies could boost their productivity by starting in-house child care programs.

Support to the conclusion : Studies have shown that companies with in-house child care programs see fewer absences among their employees who are parents than companies without such programs.

Keywords : 1. "Employee who are parents" (Either try to prove that employees without children are negatively affected by in-house CC programs)

2. "Companies without such programs" (Or try to prove, in some way, that companies without CC programs are better than companies with such programs)

A. Companies that reimburse outside child-care programs actually see less absenteeism among working parents than companies with in-house child-care programs.

We are not concerned about Outside CC program. We are dealing with only In house CC program of without it. 
 
B. In-house child-care programs create distractions for non-parents that can harm their productivity.

This option hits point one above and prove that in house CC program can adversely affect the productivity by affecting employees without kids.

C. Absenteeism is not a serious problem for companies that impose harsh penalties on employees who miss work.

We are concerned about companies that are affected by absenteeism. IRRELEVANT

D. Studies have shown that employees with children are more likely than those without children to remain in the same job for more than 5 years.

Same job or job switching is IRRELEVANT.

E. Potential employees generally view companies with in-house child-care programs as more desirable places to work than companies without such programs.

Desirability may or may not affect absenteeism. Not helpful.

One of the biggest threats to a company’s productivity is absenteeism.

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One of the biggest threats to a company’s productivity is absenteeism.

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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