Attitudinal correlates of employee integrity

Employee theft, violence, and drug abuse account for enormous losses in business and industry. The major purpose of the present research was to determine the relationship of the attitudes of prospective employees in these three key areas and the admissions of such acts by the applicant in a preemployment polygraph examination. Four hundred seventy job applicants for positions of trust involving access to money merchandise, and other company property completed the Personnel Selection Inventory (PSI) prior to taking the preemployment polygraphe examination. The results showed strong relationships between attitudes and behavior in the area of theft (r=.56, p<.01), violence (r=.51. p<.05). and drug abuse (r=.46 for marijuana use, p<.05 and r=.40 for other drug abuse. p<.05). The results also showed that the PSI had no adverse impact against protected race or sex groups. Implications of these findings are discussed.