Permissions: Allow Users to Add Notes to a Contact Record Without Giving Access (A True Challenge)

Permissions: Allow Users to Add Notes to a Contact Record Without Giving Access (A True Challenge)

The president wants the sales staff to have access only to the records for which they are the Contact Owner.
 
The sales staff claim they must have access to other salespersons' records so they can enter notes when the other salespersons are not available.
 
The president has instructed me to find a way for the sales staff to enter notes in any record, regardless of who the Contact Owner is, without giving the sales staff access to the records in which they will be entering notes.
 
I'm not that brilliant.  Anyone else?
 
Thanks much!