Louisiana Contractors License Practice Exam

What does the Employee Polygraph Protection Act specifically ban?

1. The use of polygraph tests by all employers

2. The use of polygraph tests by private employers

3. The use of drug tests by private employers

4. The use of background checks by all employers

The correct answer is: The use of polygraph tests by private employers

The Employee Polygraph Protection Act specifically prohibits private employers from using polygraph tests in the hiring process or during the course of employment. This legislation was enacted to protect employees and job applicants from the potential misuse of polygraph tests, which may not always produce reliable results. The Act provides certain exemptions, mainly for employers involved in national security, drug manufacturing, and a few other regulated industries, but for the majority of private sector employers, the use of such tests is banned. In contrast, other options like banning all employers from using polygraph tests or concerning drug tests and background checks do not accurately reflect the scope of this specific law. The employee's privacy, as well as the integrity of the hiring process, are central to the aim of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, reinforcing the belief that testing should not be a barrier to employment based on potentially flawed results.