What is the Employee Polygraph Protection Act?
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) is a federal law that protects employees in Massachusetts from being required to take a lie detector test (also known as a polygraph test). This law makes it illegal for most private employers to require employees to take polygraph tests. The law was enacted in 1988 to protect the privacy of employees and to prevent employers from using these tests to unfairly discriminate against employees. The EPPA applies to all employers in Massachusetts who do business with the federal government and to any business with two or more employees. The law prohibits employers from requiring or even asking employees to take polygraph tests as a condition of employment or continued employment. It also prohibits employers from taking any disciplinary action against employees who refuse to take a polygraph test. There are some exceptions to the law that allow employers to use polygraph tests in certain situations. For example, polygraph tests can be used to investigate suspected theft, embezzlement, and fraud related to trade secrets, and employers can test certain job applicants for positions involving national security. Overall, the EPPA helps protect employees in Massachusetts by ensuring that employers do not use polygraph tests to unfairly target or discriminate against employees. This law provides important rights to employees looking to ensure their privacy and safety in the workplace.
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