The recent and unfortunate events in Huntsville, Alabama serve to remind us all that workplace violence must never be underestimated.

And as it says at the ACC - or the Association of Corporate Counsel - one good way to stop workplace violence is through employee monitoring.

It might not be self-evident, but if you think about it employee monitoring might actually be the best way to catch violence before it erupts at work.

Those employees who exhibit violence in the workplace often express feelings of aggression beforehand, and if they have computers in their office you can bet employee monitoring will catch it.

E-mails are a classic example, particularly those in which threats of harm, harassing behavior, and symptoms of paranoia become evident.

There are also instant messages to be reviewed for signs of aggression, as well as an employees' search history.

Thanks to top-quality employee monitoring programs with easy-to-use tools and features, any manager or employer can take important steps to minimize danger at work and avoid terrible situations like that in Alabama.