Companies X and Y

[harsh.champ]

Companies X and Y have the same number of employees working the same number of hours per week. According to the records kept by the human resources department of each company, the employees of company X took nearly twice as many sick days as the employees of company Y. Therefore, the employees of company Y are healthier than the employees of company X.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion above?
A. Company X allows employees to use sick days to take care of sick family members.
B. Company Y offers its employees dental insurance and company X doesn't.
C. Company X offers its employees a free membership to the local gym.
D. Company X offers its employees a free membership to the local gym.
E. Both companies offer two weeks of sick days per year.

[komal]

Companies X and Y have the same number of employees working the same number of hours per week. According to the records kept by the human resources department of each company, the employees of company X took nearly twice as many sick days as the employees of company Y. Therefore, the employees of company Y are healthier than the employees of company X.

A. Company X allows employees to use sick days to take care of sick family members.
Correct : This shows an alternate cause (more number of sick days) of the stated effect

B. Company Y offers its employees dental insurance and company X doesn't.
Incorrect : Medical Insurance is out of scope here

C. Company X offers its employees a free membership to the local gym.
Incorrect : This might actually strengthen the argument by making an assumption that Company X employees go to the gym regularly and are healthier.

D. Company X offers its employees a free membership to the local gym.
Incorrect : Same as above

E. Both companies offer two weeks of sick days per year.
Incorrect : Equal number of sick days does not address the issue of company x's more number of sick days. Eliminated !