What is the Employee Polygraph Protection Act?
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) is a federal law that governs the use of polygraph (lie detector) tests by employers in the state of Indiana. Under the EPPA, employers cannot require applicants or employees to take a polygraph test, nor can they take adverse action against an employee based solely on the results of a polygraph test. Employers are also prohibited from even inquiring about the results of a polygraph test that was taken in the past. The EPPA applies to most employers in Indiana, unless they are in the armed forces, dealing with national defense or security, or in the business of manufacturing or distributing drugs. Furthermore, the EPPA does not apply if the employer is conducting investigations of economic loss, either due to suspected employee dishonesty or theft. The EPPA was enacted to protect employees from potential abuse by employers with regard to the use of polygraph testing. It is important to note that the EPPA does not prohibit employers from using polygraph tests, but it does require employers to follow specific rules. For instance, employers must provide employees with written notice of the proposed test, provide the employee with a copy of the test results, and require the employee to sign a form waiving rights to take legal action against the employer over the testing.
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