Discover which employees can legally be asked to take a polygraph test according to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). Prepare for your SHRM-SCP certification exam with this sample question and detailed answer explanation.
Table of Contents
Question
Which individual can an employer request to take a polygraph test?
Answer
Accountant whose department is under scrutiny for embezzlement.
Explanation
According to the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA), an accountant whose department is under scrutiny for embezzlement can legally be requested by their employer to take a polygraph test.
The EPPA generally prohibits private employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre-employment screening or during employment. However, the EPPA provides an exemption that allows polygraph testing of certain job applicants and employees of companies that provide armored car, security, and alarm services. It also allows testing of employees who are reasonably suspected of involvement in a workplace incident, such as theft or embezzlement, that resulted in specific economic loss or injury to the employer.
In this scenario, the accountant works in a department that is under investigation for embezzlement, a form of theft or misappropriation of funds. If the employer has a reasonable suspicion that the accountant was involved in the embezzlement incident which caused economic loss to the company, they would legally be allowed to request that the accountant take a polygraph test.
However, the exemption allowing testing of employees suspected of theft or embezzlement is limited. The incident must be work-related, must have resulted in economic loss or injury to the employer, and the employee must have had access to the property in question. The employer must also provide the employee with a written statement specifying the incident and basis for testing before administering the test.
So in summary, while polygraph testing of employees is generally prohibited, an accountant suspected of embezzlement could legally be asked to take a polygraph test by their employer if the strict criteria outlined in the EPPA exemption are met. The employer’s suspicion must be reasonable and the incident must have caused economic harm.
SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the SHRM-SCP exam and earn SHRM-SCP certification.