Online feedback

Below are edited excerpts from comments posted by online readers to 'No place for State', yesterday's report on Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) chairman Wayne Chen warning the Government not to get "too involved" in the issue of polygraph (lie detector) testing of employees in the private sector.

Two-way street

Polygraph testing should be a two-way street. Managers and owners should be tested to see if they have ever lied, stolen anything or willing to act honestly at all times. This will never happen, I am sure; but it goes to show why water runs down hill and the big bosses will always be willing to exploit their employees.

Being called a thief in Jamaica, is a reflection of a class issue, 'cause some of the biggest thieves are in the upper echelons, but you dare not call them so. You reserve those comments for the class that is perceived to be below you in the stratified layers of Jamaican society.

- Zwain

Retrograde thinking

It is the Govt's duty to protect the fundamental rights and basic human rights of all its citizens - in both the public and private sphere. It appears that Mr Chen wants to run his own little empire.

As a descendant of slaves, I am very concerned about his retrograde thinking on employment. Emanci-pation and Independence have both been achieved in Jamaica, sir!

- Johnny B

Bad idea

I worked for a public-sector organisation where the CEO pressured staff to take polygraph tests to determine the guilty party in a particular case. It was humiliating for the staff involved, and left them open to gossip by co-workers who looked at them with suspicion. It turned out the guilty party was a relative of the CEO, who was in charge of that section.

I also agree that the first persons to be polygraphed should be politicians, and those in cahoots with them.

- Not amused

No polygraph test!

So, the JEF is seeking to use polygraph tests on its employees or prospective employees? Why not start with the CEOs, and other top officials? How many times have they coerced employees into lying? Will this now be a case of lie only if I tell you to? Come on JEF, you must be able to do better than this.

No to polygraph testing of employees or prospective employees!

- C Rite