Hi--
I am a finalist for a huge job opportunity, and while I have a clean drug/alcohol/criminal/dmv history, the whole idea of the polygraph makes me nervous. Example...I have two company logo coffee mugs from the break room at a place I worked for 12 years. Nice mementos of my time there. It didn't occur to me to ask anyone and I'm sure nobody would have objected had I requested 3 or 4 of them to take home, but the fact is that I did take them without permission. Had I been asked spur-of-the-moment if I've ever stolen from an employer, naturally my answer would have been "no." Now that I have had time to psyche myself out, these coffee mugs in the back of my cupboard have passed through my brain. While it seems a silly & insignificant item, am I now to answer that YES; I have stolen from an employer...? If so, there's really not much point in me even showing up. It's my understanding that I will only be able to answer "yes" of "no" with no opportunity to qualify my response.
Can someone who has been through this process or understands it kindly shine some light on this? I honestly have nothing to hide, yet I fear shooting myself in the foot as with the example above. Thanks...
Their biggest utility is as a psychological tool. People who believe that they work are more likely to confess their wrongdoings and misdeeds.
I wouldn't be too afraid about coffee mugs.
What's sad is that companies are resorting to these tactics. I've even heard of "personality" tests for $10 an hour customer service jobs. Fail, and you don't even get an interview. It shows that the job market is still very tight.
Couple minutes late to work here, leave early there,couple of copies here, bbi all day, doing the crossword in the shitter, figuring your fantasy league here, those long lunches with your secretary, etc.
I always, as mentioned above, alway stated in the pre test interview, at least ~ $500 a year.
The question when doing the test is "other than what you mentioned"
Now, if you follow up 'did you take anything that didn't belong to you' with 'stinger missile', then you might have a problem on your hands.
Typically that's how it's done. Glad to help. And if it doesn't start that way you can always volunteer it at the beginning anyway. Don't sweat it; they're looking for serious problems.
Now they are using them to assess employees who are transferring to new positions within a company. I don't know what they are doing with that data.
I could easily see a legal challenge to these tests on discriminatory grounds. I welcome it.
Just relax as best you can. It's not that bad and it's over quickly.
Bonus question: "Do you have any ulterior motives for gaining employment with this company".
This is a great website, and I continue to appreciate the informed commentary that's not usually found on internet message boards.
I've heard of people unwittingly admitting stealing office supplies and leaving the test in cuffs.
You can plead the 5th and I suggest you do for those difficult to answer questions.
Overview
The EPPA prohibits most private employers from using lie detector tests, either for pre-employment screening or during the course of employment. Employers generally may not require or request any employee or job applicant to take a lie detector test, or discharge, discipline, or discriminate against an employee or job applicant for refusing to take a test or for exercising other rights under the Act. Employers may not use or inquire about the results of a lie detector test or discharge or discriminate against an employee or job applicant on the basis of the results of a test, or for filing a complaint, or for participating in a proceeding under the Act. Subject to restrictions, the Act permits polygraph (a type of lie detector) tests to be administered to certain job applicants of security service firms (armored car, alarm, and guard) and of pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and dispensers.
Subject to restrictions, the Act also permits polygraph testing of certain employees of private firms who are reasonably suspected of involvement in a workplace incident (theft, embezzlement, etc.) that resulted in specific economic loss or injury to the employer. Where polygraph examinations are allowed, they are subject to strict standards for the conduct of the test, including the pretest, testing and post-testing phases. An examiner must be licensed and bonded or have professional liability coverage. The Act strictly limits the disclosure of information obtained during a polygraph test.
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lol umm... this is not a court ordered polygraph. You won't be arrested.