Strengthening Employee Wellness Arguments

A study conducted on employee wellness programs shows that workplaces offering comprehensive health benefits report lower absenteeism rates compared to those that do not provide such programs. The researchers argue that investing in employee health not only boosts morale but also reduces costs associated with employee turnover.

However, a critic of this study claims that the lower absenteeism rates could be attributed to other factors, such as the company culture or job satisfaction levels, rather than the wellness programs themselves. To strengthen the original argument, which of the following statements would be most helpful?