Global Experts Union runs voluntary lie detector tests for job candidates and current staff. Typical cases are pre-employment screening and routine staff checks. We often test people with access to money or company data. We also investigate theft and leaks. Every test needs the employee's written consent. A session usually takes 1–1.5 hours, and accuracy is 95–98%. Finally, the report is ready within 24 hours. Prices start from $250 per person.
When companies order an employee test
Most requests fall into one of six situations. Each one needs a different set of questions. So we agree the list with you before anyone is tested.
Checking the key claims of a candidate for a role of trust. Such roles usually give access to cash, goods, client data or company secrets.
Periodic tests for cashiers, warehouse staff, security and finance teams. Such checks are usually agreed in the employment contract.
Finding out who is behind missing stock, cash or fuel. Usually several people had the same access.
Establishing who passed price lists, databases or contract terms to a competitor.
Confirming that a departing employee is not taking documents, clients or passwords.
Checking specific statements of a future partner, supplier or investor before a deal.
How the test is organised
The same four steps apply to one candidate. They also apply to a group of twenty employees.
The polygraph records breathing, pulse, blood pressure and skin conductance. Meanwhile the employee answers a short list of questions. These reactions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. So a person cannot switch them off at will. The examiner compares reactions to different types of questions. Therefore a result is reported only when the pattern is consistent.
A good workplace test is narrow and concrete. "Did you take money from the till in May?" gives a clear answer. "Are you an honest person?" does not. That is why the questions are always agreed with the employer first. Then the examiner reads them out to the employee before the recording starts.
You describe the role or the incident. We agree who is tested, which questions are allowed and the date.
Each employee signs a written consent form. They also go through every question with the examiner.
The questions are usually asked in several rounds. One person takes about 1–1.5 hours.
Finally, you receive a signed report within 24 hours. It lists the questions and the result for each of them.
What an employer can ask during screening
The questions must relate to the job and to verifiable facts. For a candidate, a typical list usually covers the following topics.
- the truth of the CV: education, experience and reasons for leaving;
- any theft of money or goods from a previous employer;
- undisclosed debts or links to competitors that create a conflict of interest;
- drug use or gambling that affects work;
- a hidden criminal record, where the role requires disclosure.
Questions about religion, politics or sexual life are not asked. The same applies to health unrelated to the job and to family plans. They are both unlawful and useless for the employer's decision. See also our article on what questions are asked on a lie detector test.
Is it legal to test employees?
It depends on the country, but the rules are strict everywhere. We only test where the law allows it. Written consent from the employee is also required.
European Union and the United Kingdom
An employer can offer a test but cannot force anyone to take it. A refusal must not lead to dismissal or any other penalty. Test results are also personal data under the GDPR, or UK GDPR in Britain. So the employee is told what is recorded and who sees the report. They are also told how long it is kept.
United States
The federal Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 covers most private employers. It bars them from using the test for hiring or routine checks. There are narrow exceptions, however. These cover, for example, an ongoing investigation of a specific loss such as theft. Certain security and pharmaceutical companies are also exempt. Government employers are not covered by the Act. So, US employers can just send us the case details. We will say honestly whether a test is possible.
Other countries
In many other countries there is no special law. Instead, general rules on privacy and employment apply. The principle stays the same: voluntary participation, written consent and questions limited to the job.
What a workplace test cannot do
A workplace test is a decision-support tool, not a verdict. It does not replace references, document checks or a proper internal investigation. Nor can it predict how a person will behave in the future. Vague questions about character are also outside its scope.
The test is also not a way to put pressure on staff. A test ordered to intimidate a team usually damages trust more than it helps. Used fairly, it often does the opposite. After a loss, innocent employees can clear their names quickly. So the investigation can focus on the facts. A related case type is covered separately. See our page on the lie detector test for court and lawyers.
Prices for employee testing
The price is per person. It depends on the type of test and the number of questions. Group testing for several employees is usually quoted with a volume discount. For a team after an incident, we also propose an on-site schedule.
| Service | Price (USD) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-employment screening | $250 | 1 – 1.5 h |
| Planned employee screening | $250 | 1 – 1.5 h |
| Dismissed employee screening | $250 | 1 – 1.5 h |
| Theft and fraud detection | $350 – $500 | 1.5 – 2.5 h |
| Internal investigation | $250 | 1 – 2 h |
| Business partner verification | $250 | 1 – 1.5 h |
Travel to your premises in another city is quoted separately. A coordinator replies with dates and a price within 24 hours. All country rates and payment options are on the lie detector test prices page.
Prices are indicative. Finally, a coordinator confirms the cost at booking or once the service is clear.
Company cases are handled by a team of certified examiners. The team is led by Anton Vertel, Executive Director of Global Experts Union. He is a certified polygraph examiner and profiler-verifier. Anton Vertel is also trained in practical psychology and philosophical anthropology.
Every chart is stored, so a second examiner can review the result. This happens if the employer or the employee disputes it. We do not tell a client what they want to hear. If the data does not support a clear answer, the report says so.
Employee testing: FAQ
What employers and employees usually ask before the test.
Can an employer make an employee take a lie detector test?
No. The test is always voluntary and based on written consent. In the EU and the UK a refusal cannot lead to dismissal. However, most private US employers cannot request a test.
How much does an employee lie detector test cost?
Screening of a candidate or an employee costs from $250 per person. A theft or fraud investigation costs $350–$500. Group testing usually gets a discount, confirmed by a coordinator at booking.
How long does it take?
A screening session takes 1–1.5 hours per person. An investigation can take up to 2.5 hours. The written report arrives within 24 hours.
What questions are asked in pre-employment screening?
Questions cover job-relevant facts: the truth of the CV and theft from previous employers. Undisclosed debts, conflicts of interest, drug use or gambling that affects work are also checked. Personal topics such as religion, politics or family plans are never asked.
Who sees the results?
Only the person or company that ordered the test. The employee is told beforehand what the report contains. The data is also handled under the GDPR where it applies.
How accurate is the test?
With a certified examiner and properly worded questions, accuracy is 95–98%. However, the reactions do not always allow a clear conclusion. The report then says the result is inconclusive.
Can you test several employees in one day?
Yes. The examiner usually schedules several people back to back at your premises. Larger groups are split over several days.
Can an innocent employee fail because of nerves?
Ordinary nervousness does not cause a failed result. The method compares reactions between questions, so general anxiety shows up evenly. It does not point to one topic.
Tell us the role or the incident, the number of people and the city.
contact@globalexpertsunion.com
Bookings: Monday–Sunday, 08:00–22:00
Testing a team after an incident? Send the number of people.
Voluntary, lawful testing by a certified examiner, with a written report in 24 hours.
Professional lie detection worldwide