Vaughn v. Florida Unemployment Appeals Commission

At issue is whether an individual who refuses to take a polygraph examination may be denied unemployment compensation benefits where submission to such examination was not a term of the employment contract. We answer in the negative and reverse.

Appellant managed a convenience store for approximately four years. On several occasions, at the owner/company’s request, appellant took a polygraph examination. In 1984 the company noted inventory shortages at appellant’s store and, again, requested that she submit to a polygraph examination. She declined, was fired, and filed for unemployment…