Can your employer force you to take a lie detector test in South Africa? - EWN

South African employers can request that employees undergo lie detector tests during workplace investigations, but refusing one does not automatically mean an employee is guilty, labour law expert Advocate Tertius Wessels has explained.

Speaking to Anele and the Club on 947, Wessels discussed workplace polygraph testing, explaining what employers can and cannot do when investigating suspected misconduct.

He said South Africa has no specific legislation regulating polygraph testing, but employers may request that employees undergo the tests when there are reasonable grounds to suspect dishonesty.

"Short answer, yes," Wessels said when asked whether employers can require employees to take lie detector tests.