The parents of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old Treasury worker, are questioning the circumstances of her death, stating that her manager "ambushed" her with accusations of office gossip during a meeting that preceded her suicide on May 20 last year. A coroner recently ruled that the Treasury had "materially contributed" to Ms. Moffat's death by not adhering to its own Human Resources procedures.
Ms. Moffat, described as having an "exemplary employment record" over nearly three years, was reportedly not reassured that her job was safe during the meeting on May 19. She had assumed it was a routine discussion with her line manager, but was instead met by both her line manager and a senior manager. They accused her of sharing confidential information about colleagues, including a job move, a relationship between two staff members, and salary details. Ms. Moffat repeatedly asked if her job was at risk and if she could have a friend present for support, but both requests were denied. The senior manager stated they "could not predict the outcome at this stage" when asked about job security.
Her parents, Anne and David Moffat, expressed bewilderment at the accusations, which they characterized as "office gossip." "When her line manager heard them, she said they didn't sound like the Chloe she knew," Anne Moffat stated. "So why ambush her with a meeting like this without checking if they were vexatious, unfounded or simply not true?"
Following the meeting, Ms. Moffat found herself locked out of her email and was instructed not to discuss the allegations with colleagues. She messaged a friend expressing a belief that she would be fired and later met the friend, where she was seen "distressed" and "crying." She also called her mother, who was abroad at the time, and conveyed her conviction that she would lose her job.
Ms. Moffat traveled to her parents' home that night. The next day, her father found her deceased. The medical cause of death was ruled as suicide. Her father believes the events at work left his daughter feeling "destroyed" and convinced her life was ruined.
Assistant coroner Anna Crawford indicated that Ms. Moffat's state of mind, fearing job loss, likely played a role in her decision to take her own life. The coroner's investigation found that the meeting did not follow Treasury disciplinary policy, which would have suggested Ms. Moffat would likely have received at most a written warning if the allegations were proven, and dismissal was unlikely.
A Prevention of Future Deaths report has been sent to the Treasury and the head of the civil service. The Treasury stated it is carefully considering the coroner's findings and has implemented improvements to support colleague well-being for those accused of misconduct. The department is reportedly not contesting the findings. A Treasury spokesperson extended deepest sympathies to Ms. Moffat's friends and family, stating the department "will learn the lessons from this tragedy" and has made immediate changes to guidance, support, and well-being arrangements. The parents have agreed to meet with the Treasury to share their views and hear about the department's actions.