Employment Testing

Employers in the United States are permitted to request that employees  submit to a polygraph exam under some specific conditions, as provided  for by Federal Law.   There are two types of exams typically used by employers, the Specific  Loss Exam and the Pre-Employment Exam.

SPECIFIC LOSS EXAM  

Questions must be limited to the specific loss only. The examiner is not  permitted to ask questions about losses other than those listed in  the notification form. 

PRE-EMPLOYMENT EXAM  

Prior to 1988 many businesses required their prospective employees to take and pass a polygraph test. Since these new laws were  passed, only the following businesses are permitted to request pre-employment polygraph exams: 

• SECURITY COMPANIES
• PHARMACEUTICAL SALES OR TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES
• POWER GENERATING COMPANIES
• LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
• OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

THE EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT OF 1988 

I am available for EPPA exams. The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (U.S. federal law)  establishes that certain requirements be met for an employee  to take a polygraph exam, with severe penalties for violations. Please  complete the following check-list to insure compliance with the  law.

• Polygraph may be requested by an employer of an employee 
   
• Polygraph testing can not be in violation of State law 
   
• Employer (or third party) must have suffered a specific loss 
   
• Loss must be identifiable 
   
• Employee must have had access
   
• Employee must be suspected of involvement
   
• Schedule the exam 
   
• Make request to employee in writing 
   
• Can not fire an employee just for refusing to take a polygraph 
   
• Can not fire an employee just for failing a polygraph 
   
• Release of polygraph report to employee when action is taken 
   
• Employer must retain form for 3 years