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The murder of Yale University Lab Technician Annie Le was sad, particularly because her body was found on what was supposed to be her wedding day. The accused killer in this incident is Raymond Clark, III, a 24-year old co-worker. This tragic incident is not only problematic due to the fact that a young woman lost her life. It is also a sad reminder of the dramatic rise in workplace violence throughout the United States.There has been an 18% increase in workplace violence in 2009, relative to last year. Also, according to Corporate Counseling Associates, an HR consulting firm, there has been a 28% increase in workplace suicides. A poor economy certainly plays a role in the frequency of workplace violence, as tough times lead to tough decisions by firm managers who have to slice jobs in order to keep their companies afloat.
African Americans are impacted even more by the threat of workplace violence, since our unemployment rate tends to be much higher than that of white Americans. Also, other forms of related violence, such as that which occurs in the home, are affected when the economy goes south. In other words, a tough economy leads to problems that go far beyond money.
The case of Annie Le brings some questions to light when one thinks about violence in the workplace. These questions should be asked by employees and employers, since violence is not only a threat to employee safety, it is also a potential door to major lawsuits filed by those affected:
1) Are there background checks being done on employees? If an employee has committed a violent crime in the past, this may unfortunately be a reason not to bring him/her into the workplace. At the very least, precautions should be taken to ensure that the other employees are protected.
Anne Les Tragic Murder
In this photo taken Thursday Sept. 17, 2009, memorial flowers are placed on the corner of Amistad Street, where the body of Yale graduate student Annie Le was discovered in the Yale Building in New Haven, Conn. Police say they might never know the motive for the killing of a Yale University graduate student whose body was found hidden behind a wall on what should have been her wedding day. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey)
AP
In this photo taken Thursday Sept. 17, 2009, the Yale building at 10 Amistad Street, where the body of Yale graduate student Annie Le was discovered, is seen in New Haven, Conn. Police say they might never know the motive for the killing of a Yale University graduate student whose body was found hidden behind a wall on what should have been her wedding day. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey)
AP
This undated photo released by New Haven Police Dept., shows Yale graduate student Annie Le who disappeared on Sept. 8, 2009. Raymond Clark III, 24, a Yale lab technician was arrested Thursday Sept. 17, 2009 and charged with murdering the graduate student in the research building where they both worked. (AP Photo/New Haven Police Dept.)
AP
In this Thursday Sept. 17, 2009 photo released by the New Haven, Conn. Mayor's Office, Raymond Clark III is shown. Clark, 24, has been charged with murder of Annie Le, a pharmacology doctoral student at Yale University who vanished Sept. 8. Le's body was found Sunday, Sept. 13, stuffed into a utility compartment behind a wall in the basement of the Yale research building where she and Clark worked. (AP Photo/New Haven Mayor's Office)
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New Haven Police Chief James Lewis takes questions from journalists gathered at the New Haven Police Station after announcing the arrest of Raymond Clark III, 24, of Middletown, Thursday, September 17, 2009, in connection with the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le. (Bettina Hansen/Hartford Courant/MCT)
MCT
New Haven Police Chief James Lewis announces the arrest of Raymond Clark III, 24, of Middletown, Thursday, September 17, 2009, in connection with the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le. (Bettina Hansen/Hartford Courant/MCT)
MCT
Raymond Clark III is taken into custody by police at the Super 8 Motel Thursday, September 17, 2009, in Cromwell, Connecticut. DNA results released this morning connected him to the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le. (Mandatory Credit Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant/MCT)
MCT
** RETRANSMISSION FOR ALTERNATE CROP ** Raymond Clark III, 24, is arraigned at Superior Court in New Haven, Conn. Thursday Sept. 17, 2009 in connection with the murder of Annie Le, a Yale graduate student whose body was found stuffed in the wall of the research building where they both worked. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey, Pool)
AP
Raymond Clark III 24, is arraigned at Superior Court in New Haven, Conn. Thursday Sept. 17, 2009 in connection with the murder of Annie Le, a Yale graduate student whose body was found stuffed in the wall of the research building where they both worked. At left is Assistant Public Defender Jospeh E. Lopez. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey, Pool)
AP
Judge Jon Blue give instructions before the start of the arraignment of Raymond Clark III, 24, at Superior Court in New Haven, Conn., Thursday Sept. 17, 2009 in connection with the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le. (AP Photo/Douglas Healey, Pool)
AP
2) Are there proper channels for reporting violence when it occurs? In the student shooting rampage at Virginia Tech University, some students died allegedly because the university did not have a proper warning system.
3) Is there a way to provide counseling to workers so they can handle layoffs or workplace stress in a more productive manner? In addition, what about dispute resolution between employees? If the workplace has become uncomfortable, employees should be able to report the discomfort to management so that problems are solved before they get out of hand.
4) Are there ways to spot situations in which an employee is at risk of being violent in the workplace? Clark, the tech who is accused of killing Ms. Le, was known to be a "control freak" and allegedly felt that the animal cages in the lab were his personal territory. There are many cases in which workplace violence is committed by individuals who've shown a propensity for aggressive behavior.
5) Are employees informed on the company's existing policies on workplace violence? Employees should know what lines are not acceptable to cross in the workplace. Also, according to a 2005 Survey by the US Department of Labor, 70% of all companies do not have a policy in place to prevent workplace violence.
Annie Le's tragic death may be an opportunity to save lives. By grabbing the lessons presented from her case, we can make workplaces across America safer for everyone. Let's hope that Annie did not die in vain.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email box, please click here. 
Comments: (28)
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By: Gpowell on 9/19/2009 9:50AM
I was in a situation where I felt threatened during a private meeting with a supervisor, I told him I would talk to him when he had calmed down and left the meeting. He responded by telling HR, they never asked me what happened. He was white and I'm black....
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By: Sue on 9/21/2009 7:01PM
A male supervisor is never suppose to be in a meeting alone with a female subordinate. He should always have another female present. Most companies have these policies as part of sexual harassment prevention. Next time ask for someone else to be present.
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By: Simeon on 9/21/2009 1:05PM
Growing up in the USA I was proud of my race but now am ashame of being black. when will blacks stick together to promote black cause. when will black come together to show our unity like all other ethnic groups. why is it that we can't come together and do thing economiclly. Like Mexicans they send billions of dollars back to mexico. like all other nationalities. we are more Educated but with less sence of what reality is. Look at those nations that are much smaller that Black people population wise but they have learn how to unify economicly, unify collective to open business. But black being the most selfish people on earth refuse to pull all there wealth together to help promote black agendas.
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By: CFord on 9/25/2009 9:01AM
Simeon, first of all do not EVER let ANYONE make you "ashamed" of being who you are. Don't let anyone reduce your soul to level of hatred and that includes self-hatred. My second comment to you is "Each one teach one"; for hundreds of years, we have been divided as a race so that we could be conquered as a people. We have been played two ends against the middle in numerous ways, too many to count almost. If unity is what you seek, you must first begin with those closest to you, family members, church members, school and work peers and if you show that in your day to day existence, it should roll forward, not always but it should, but not only should you talk that talk, you must also certainly walk that walk. Last and certainly not least, if you have children, teach them that they ARE thier brothers' keepers...or at least to be empathetic to thier situations. . .if you don't have your own kids, teach your nieces and nephews and cousins and any other little kids you are blessed to have in your life. Volunteer (Big Brothers and Sisters of America) is a great way to start. Be accountable for how you treat females and remind other males to do the same. It is a slow process, but we didn't become this way overnight either.
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By: Vickiss on 9/21/2009 2:50PM
Why was this not looked at as a racial issue as well? If she was Black or Hispanic there would be a completely different spin on it.
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By: nissa on 9/21/2009 10:47PM
Vickiss, with all respect, why must EVERYTHING be racially motivated? Maybe he did hate Asians,if so then I get it, BUT he should not have any more or less of a sentence because of it. Dead is Dead. Whether a KKK person killed her or her own brother. If people keep crying race for everything then when there is truly a racial incident - it has less substance.
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By: chris on 9/22/2009 4:45PM
I agree 100% with nissa. Why does EVERYTHING must ALWAYS come down to "race"? (which is man made anyway)Damn. Someone lost their life and the first thing out somebodies mouth is "If they were____". What the hell difference does it make what their skin color was? They are DEAD and deserve justice. That's tacky and tasteless of you to mention that. Then again I've been reading posts about Kanye West and what some "people" want to do to him because of a case of bad manners, you'd think he murdered someone. They NEVER get ENOUGH of this fascination with this thing called "race" in this country. And wonder why "racsim" won't "die".
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By: Rivkah Bergman on 9/22/2009 8:05AM
In this news report we don't hear what the motive is. All they show you are pictures of Raymond Clark. He also doesn't have hand cuffs on in front of the Judge. Why is that? He is is a cold blooded murder, out of his mind, why isn't he in hand cuffs. He is dangerous, wouldn't you say?
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By: Rita on 9/22/2009 11:08PM
He has no hand cuffs on because he is a wm. CASE CLOSED
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By: sadstate on 9/23/2009 10:23PM
Its a sad state in Corporate America when people who have worked hard and invested heavily in time, money to educate themselves to a high academic status only to be murdered on the job. This incidence is more prevalent that we realize. People in the research disipline with significant contributions to make in medicine are often the target of violent abuse or sabotage. I feel so sorry for the family. Such a tragedy and lost.
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