Every employer wants to cooperate only with reliable and conscientious employees. An interview is conducted to test the employee's integrity. However, one meeting with a person does not allow one to draw reliable conclusions. To obtain truthful information, some employers use a polygraph. This is a technical tool that allows you to determine whether a person is lying or telling the truth. Leading questions will allow the employer to clarify all points of interest.
Does an employer have the right to use a polygraph ?
Is it legal to use a polygraph as an adjunct to an interview?
The law of the Russian Federation contains no provisions prohibiting the use of the device when applying for a job. But a person cannot be forced to participate in an event. A person undergoes a polygraph solely voluntarily. The applicant for the position must provide his written consent to the procedure. However, in some cases, testing is not recommended. Consider these cases:
- Exhaustion of the person being tested.
- Incapacity.
- Presence of heart or respiratory diseases.
- Temporarily incapacitated due to alcohol or drug use.
- Minority.
- Pregnancy.
What are the conditions for conducting a polygraph test ?
All these cases are limitations in the use of a lie detector. There are no direct prohibitions, but it makes sense to follow these recommendations. This is due to the fact that in the presence of the listed conditions, the polygraph may give incorrect information.
IMPORTANT! Unscrupulous applicants try to avoid taking a lie detector test. Many people know about such contraindications to testing as diseases of the heart or respiratory system. Applicants, not wanting to take a polygraph, refer specifically to these diseases. In order to prevent lies, it makes sense for the employer to request certificates of the actual presence of illness.
ATTENTION! The employer has no right to force the applicant to undergo testing.
Polygraph when applying for a job: what is the procedure
Some employers have strict requirements for their potential employees. They consider it necessary to establish not only the level of qualifications of the applicant, but also to check some facts from his life. Information provided by a future employee of the organization can be analyzed using a polygraph.
A polygraph or lie detector is a device with which psychophysiological examinations of the applicant are carried out.
The polygraph records various human parameters:
- cardiovascular activity;
- electrical resistance of the skin;
- breathing rate;
- other physiological parameters.
The obtained measurement results are analyzed, as a result of which the degree of reliability of the information presented is determined. The developers of the technique proceed from the fact that when a person lies, he becomes nervous. Such a reaction is reflected in indicators of the physiological state. Deviations from the state of rest are precisely what the lie detector registers.
Table: types of polygraphs
| Device type | Features of work |
| Analog polygraph | Data recording is carried out on chart paper. |
| Digital polygraph | The recording is made on electronic media using a computer. |
Using a polygraph, the employer determines whether the applicant is suitable for the position for which he wishes to be employed.
The lie detector allows you to calculate the following facts:
- whether the applicant used alcohol and drugs;
- whether he falsified information about himself;
- whether the potential employee has a criminal record;
- whether the applicant took bribes at previous places of work, etc.
A polygraph test implies not only the use of the device, but also the participation of a qualified specialist.
It is the employee performing the inspection that has a greater influence on the quality of the procedure. The device itself only records the results of the study.
It is believed that the polygraph method has a high degree of reliability of 90–96%. However, the cost of such a device is quite high, so not every employer can afford to use it.
Where is the polygraph used?
The polygraph can be used by both private companies and government agencies. As a rule, it is used if the position involves greater responsibility. The polygraph is often used when hiring for the following positions:
- Positions that require access to valuables (cashier, salesperson).
- Bank employees.
- Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Secret service workers.
- FSB officers.
The employer has the right to establish a polygraph test when appointing a person to any position.
Does an employer have the right to use a polygraph when hiring ?
Is it legal to take a polygraph when applying for a job?
In our country, the procedure for using a polygraph in the employment of citizens is not regulated at the legislative level. This means that public and private organizations, if desired, can use a similar method to verify the accuracy of the information provided by employees.
The use of a lie detector by an employer does not qualify as a violation of current legislation.
However, there is a Federal Law “On the Use of the Polygraph” dated December 7, 2005, which establishes requirements for the use of such a device and conducting surveys in our country. You can also rely on this document when employing citizens.
What questions are asked to the applicant?
First, the applicant for the position is asked neutral questions. They are needed to individually configure the device. Let's look at common questions:
- Information included in the resume.
- Information provided by the applicant about himself.
- History of thefts.
- Contacts with competing companies.
- Having bad habits: smoking, addiction to alcohol or drugs.
- Having a criminal record.
- Existence of debts to credit institutions.
- Compliance of the applicant's skills with the position.
- Availability of special education.
- Level of interest in work.
- Negative intentions regarding the organization.
- Having a gambling addiction.
The questionnaire is compiled individually and depends on the specific position. The list of questions should be compiled by a specialist. This is due to the fact that the questions should complement each other. Correct formulation is essential. All questions must be posed in such a way that they can be answered “yes” or “no”.
IMPORTANT! The applicant has the right to refuse to answer the question posed. Typically this involves personal or tactless questioning.
For benefit or fun
As Alexey Zakharov, president of the Superjob portal, added to NEWS.ru, the polygraph is increasingly used in certain categories of companies. According to the expert, such testing is usually carried out by people who are financially responsible for something. Or those who occupy high positions (to avoid corruption in organizations).
It seems to me that any instrument, including the polygraph, has its own area of application. Where it is used for its intended purpose, it helps in decision-making, but otherwise it only confuses and complicates the decision-making process. Some people use the lie detector as a fashionable toy, and when they realize that it does not give anything, they refuse such testing.
Alexey Zakharov
President of the recruiting portal
The specialist recommended that Russians, when there is a choice between several companies, refuse an interview using a polygraph. We are talking about those situations when this technique is used as a “fashionable toy”. In such companies, even an applicant's honest answers may not help him get a position.
Sergey Lantyukhov/NEWS.ru
Lie detector procedure
Passing the test involves a number of stages. Each of them is important, since the accuracy of the results depends on proper organization.
Introductory conversation
To pass the test, you need to allocate a special room. The main condition is the absence of noise. Only the applicant and the specialist deciphering the answers may be present in the room. The person needs to clarify the following points:
- Purpose of the inspection.
- Duration of the procedure.
- Questions that will be asked.
- Right to refuse answers.
- The right to clarify questions.
- Prohibition on certain actions (for example, moving arms and legs).
The person must fully understand the procedure.
Obtaining written consent
The applicant must obtain written consent to the procedure. Without this, the verification will not be legal.
Installation of sensors
At the moment, the polygraph is a device with a sensor. Sensors are connected to the device. The device registers various changes. The received signals are converted into code. Several measuring devices are attached to the face:
- Electrical conductivity sensors are attached to the fingers.
- On the chest and stomach there are elements that fix breathing.
- On your finger is a heart rate sensor.
The measuring devices are installed by a specialist.
Customizing the polygraph for a person
Each person has an individual reaction to their lies. For this reason, simple questions are asked first to customize the detector. Let's look at the subjects of these questions:
- Full name of the person.
- Date of Birth.
- Names of parents or other close relatives.
After this, you can ask the person all your questions. The duration of the test is 40-120 minutes.
Polygram formation
A polygram is the result of passing the test. It is transferred to the employer. The specialist must explain the results obtained. The results of decoding the answers can be summed up in 2-3 days. When deciphering the test results, the professionalism of the specialist is fundamentally important. The fact is that the answers to some questions may be ambiguous.
ATTENTION! The data obtained as a result of the verification is confidential.
They cannot be disclosed.
Who should not take a polygraph?
A lie detector test is a strong psychological stress. There are several categories of people for whom it is strictly contraindicated:
- women expecting a child;
- people with mental disabilities;
- persons with severe diseases of the body;
- children.
The point is not that the results may be unreliable. Anxiety during the procedure can negatively affect their health and cause dangerous consequences.
Candidates with colds, signs of fatigue, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs are not allowed to take the test. There is no point in believing such research.
If you agreed to take a lie detector test, but during the process you realize that your heart is breaking out of your chest and your stress is going through the roof, ask to stop the procedure. You shouldn't put yourself at risk.
Recommendations for the applicant
The applicant is advised to prepare for the test. The following recommendations exist:
- The procedure will require patience and concentration. Before passing it, it is recommended to get a good night's sleep and rest.
- Let's take light sedatives. This is necessary due to the fact that a polygraph test is a rather nerve-wracking event.
- A person must understand that he can refuse to answer a question at any time. However, it must be borne in mind that such behavior may be interpreted not in favor of the applicant.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION! The polygraph does not give 100% accurate results. For this reason, the test results are not used in court as evidence, but they may be attached to the case. The employer also needs to keep in mind that refusal to undergo testing does not always mean that the applicant is lying.
Scheduled polygraph tests - why are they needed?
Scheduled polygraph tests are a “preventive measure” that helps keep the team from inappropriate behavior, from evading their immediate responsibilities and from negligence. This measure allows you to increase the level of security in the organization, identify unscrupulous colleagues, violators, or people collaborating with competitors. Also, such checks will help eradicate financial and property theft.
When testing employees with a polygraph, during routine checks the following questions are asked: • About industrial espionage; • On the topic of bribes and theft; • On relationships in the team; • On the issue of interaction with organized crime, etc.
It is worth considering that as a result of scheduled inspections, other questions may be asked. For example, an employer may want to know whether employees are working productively during paid time. Even gatherings on social networks while working can be regarded as sabotage at work and a violation of labor discipline. If an employee works with a large amount of material assets, the employer will definitely check the honesty of his subordinates.
How to answer?
According to ethics, before a job interview using a polygraph, the range of questions is discussed in advance. As a rule, these are general questions that require monosyllabic answers. Some of them may seem identical, and this is not a coincidence, but a method of eliminating random reactions.
When answering questions, follow the instructions of the operator: not only the answers of the person being tested are taken into account, but also his behavior. Violation of standard rules calls into question the accuracy of the results.
Usually it is required to remain still, refrain from physiological manifestations, gestures and nods of the head. Information obtained using a polygraph is, by default, indicative and advisory in nature.
