CATEGORIES OF TESTING
PERIODIC TESTING
- Periodic testing is used, by companies, to conduct annual/bi-annual or quarterly tests on staff members
- These tests have proven highly successful in reducing risk. Large, reputable security companies, as well as companies with a large workforce, conduct these tests on a regular basis. This ensures that employees follow rules and procedure, and reduces the risk of collusion and/or theft.
- In most instances, staff members work in high risk positions and theft/shrinkage is common OR there is a risk of collusion OR corporate reputational risk is high e.g. hygienic handling of food.
- Staff members are aware that they will undergo polygraph tests at random; the risk of being caught becomes too high, and it is a good, proactive and preventative risk management measure.
INFIDELITY TESTING
- These tests are conducted, on request from a spouse/partner
- Usually when there is a suspicion of an extra marital affair.
- The polygraph serves as an indication that the suspicions they might have are valid or unfounded.
- A polygraph test does not solve marital issues.
- It is recommended that marriage counselling be sought, prior to taking the test.
- Staff members are aware that they will undergo polygraph tests at random; the risk of being caught becomes too high, and it is a good, proactive and preventative risk management measure.
SINGLE ISSUE TESTING
- These are the most frequently requested tests.
- Cases such as theft, fraud, industrial espionage, assault, sexual assault, child abuse, child neglect, use/misuse of company assets, arson, malicious damage to property and various other single-issue crimes/events.
- Single issue test questions are based on the issue at hand.
- The test will show whether the person undergoing the test:
1 Was directly involved in the case/issue.
2 Was complicit in any way in the case/issue. (Knowledge of who was involved).
3 Benefitted in any way from the incident
4 Has knowledge of who might have benefitted.
5 Has knowledge of where any property/items are located.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT POLYGRAPHS
Several companies will only employ staff members that have successfully passed a pre-employment test. These tests also eliminate the chance that employers employ new staff members that are part of a criminal syndicate trying to infiltrate their workplace.
- These tests are used by employers as a guide.
- They ensure that the person they are employing is honest and therefore deemed reliable.
- That the examinee has all claimed qualifications.
- The test will determine if they have been dismissed from previous places of employment for reasons such as:
1 theft,
2 insubordination
3 fraud
4 absent without leave,
5 drug/alcohol abuse
6 legitimacy of qualifications