Negotiations between union members and their employer were
at an impasse. The union denied that their workers were
flagrantly abusing the sick-leave provisions set out by their
contract.
One morning at the bargaining table, the company’s chief
negotiator held aloft the morning edition of the newspaper,
“This man,” he announced, “called in sick yesterday!”
There on the sports page, was a photo of the supposedly ill
employee, who had just won a local golf tournament with an
excellent score.
A union negotiator broke the silence in the room.
“Wow!” he said. “Just think of the score he could have had
if he wasn’t sick!”