A coroner's inquest has heard that a former Treasury employee, Chloe Moffat, took her own life after being subjected to a disciplinary process that left her feeling isolated and unsupported. The court was told that senior staff did not reassure Moffat that her job was safe, despite a dismissal being unlikely, and that she was not allowed to bring a third party to the meeting for support.
Moffat's mother is now calling for an overhaul in Treasury practices, citing the lack of support provided to her daughter during the disciplinary process. The inquest heard that Moffat's line manager should have been responsible for her "pastoral care", but failed to provide adequate support. Moffat's mother stated that had her daughter been properly supported and advised of her rights before the meeting, she would not have been so devastated and isolated.
The inquest also heard that Moffat was accused of sharing confidential information about colleagues, which she could access as part of her role managing her director's inbox. She was advised not to speak to her coworkers about the matter and temporarily lost access to her director's emails and diary. When informed of the anonymous complaint, Moffat appeared "shocked" and started "crying at points", and her family recalled that she was "devastated" and "convinced" she would lose her job.
A friend of Moffat's told the court that she had sent a text on the same day the proceedings were initiated, stating "I am going to be fired". The friend met up with Moffat in central London, where she "broke down" and expressed concerns about the "reputational impact" of the allegations. Moffat died by suicide the next day, and her mother is now pushing for the department to be required to assess employees' mental welfare amid disciplinary proceedings.
The Treasury has stated that changes are already being implemented, including additional training for managers. A spokesperson expressed deep sadness at Moffat's death and stated that the department's thoughts remain with her family, friends, and those affected by her loss. Moffat's mother is calling for serious or gross misconduct allegations to be treated as formal from the outset, with the accused informed of their rights, in order to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
