The family of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old HM Treasury employee, stated the department "failed in its duty of care" after a coroner ruled it "materially contributed" to her suicide in May last year. Ms. Moffat died the day after a meeting where she was informed of an anonymous complaint alleging she had shared confidential information about colleagues.
According to reports, Ms. Moffat, who had an unblemished employment record and was on track for a promotion, was summoned to a meeting with two senior managers. She denied the allegations, which her mother described as "vexatious" and akin to "office gossip." During the meeting, Ms. Moffat expressed fear about losing her job, but the manager present stated they "could not predict the outcome at this stage."
Coroner Anna Crawford concluded that Ms. Moffat should have been informed that even if the allegations were proven, the likely sanction would have been a written warning, not dismissal. The coroner determined that Ms. Moffat's state of mind, fearing she would be sacked, likely contributed to her decision to take her own life. A text message sent to a friend after the meeting read, "I am going to be fired."
After the meeting, Ms. Moffat temporarily lost access to her director's email and diary and was advised not to discuss the allegations with colleagues. The inquest heard that while managers followed HR advice, the handling of the complaint did not align with company policy. Internal emails revealed that the misconduct was already deemed "serious" before the meeting, suggesting the purpose was to elicit an admission rather than a fact-finding exercise.
The coroner noted that safeguarding measures, which should have been in place for allegations of serious misconduct, were not provided for Ms. Moffat. She was found dead by her father the following morning. Ms. Moffat had no prior history of mental health issues.
In a statement, Ms. Moffat's parents said, "Chloe had no history of mental health issues, and the evidence indicated that the distressing events in the period immediately preceding her death arose directly from the events and treatment she experienced in the workplace." They added, "At a time when she needed support, reassurance and fair treatment, she was left frightened, isolated and convinced that her career and reputation had been destroyed."
The family also expressed concern about the lack of openness regarding Ms. Moffat's death among her colleagues, stating, "We remain deeply concerned that many of Chloe's friends and former colleagues at the Treasury still feel unable to speak openly about the circumstances surrounding Chloe's death. This only reinforces our belief that there must be a culture of greater openness, accountability and learning when things go wrong."
A Treasury spokesperson said the department "mourn[s] Chloe's passing as a colleague and friend" and is "considering the findings carefully." The spokesperson added that improvements have been made to guidance, support, and wellbeing arrangements, but acknowledged that further action is needed to prevent similar incidents.
The coroner indicated she would send a prevention of future deaths report to the Treasury and the head of the civil service, suggesting a potential "wider issue" within the Government. Resources for confidential support are available, including Samaritans and The CALMzone.