U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Polygraph Protection Act – Click here

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.

The test questions can only address the specific loss being tested.  Based on legislation passed in The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988.   

The following businesses are allowed to request pre-employment screening exams:

1. Security companies
2. Pharmaceutical Sales or Transportation Companies
3. Power generating companies
4. Law enforcement agencies
5. Other government agencies