The parents of a 26-year-old HM Treasury employee, Chloe Moffat, stated that the department "failed in its duty of care" towards their daughter, who died by suicide in May of last year. A coroner's inquest concluded that the Treasury "materially contributed" to Ms. Moffat's death by not following its own human resources procedures and failing to reassure her that she was unlikely to lose her job.
Ms. Moffat, a personal assistant, took her own life the day after a meeting with senior staff where she was informed of an anonymous complaint alleging she had shared confidential information about colleagues. She denied the allegations, which her mother described as "vexatious" and "office gossip." Ms. Moffat had an unblemished employment record prior to the complaint and was on track for a promotion, having recently received a bonus for good work.
Her parents emphasized that Chloe had no history of mental health issues and that the distressing events immediately preceding her death stemmed directly from her experiences at work. "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," her parents said in a statement. They also expressed concern that many of Chloe's friends and colleagues at the Treasury still feel unable to speak openly about the circumstances of her death, which they believe indicates a need for greater openness and accountability.
During the inquest, it was revealed that Ms. Moffat was summoned to a meeting on May 19 last year with her line manager and the head of global issues. She was informed of the anonymous allegations and, when she tearfully asked if she would lose her job, was told the outcome could not be predicted. The coroner, Anna Crawford, noted that Ms. Moffat should have been informed that the likely sanction, even if the allegations were proven, would have been a written warning rather than dismissal. Ms. Crawford concluded that Ms. Moffat's state of mind, fearing she would be sacked, likely contributed to her decision to take her own life.
Following the meeting, Ms. Moffat's access to her director's email inbox and diary was temporarily suspended, and she was advised not to discuss the allegations with colleagues. Internal emails presented at the inquest indicated that while staff described the meeting as an informal fact-finding session, they had already deemed the alleged misconduct to be "serious." The coroner stated that the meeting was not in accordance with HR policy and that safeguarding measures, which should have been in place for Ms. Moffat, were absent. The coroner intends to send a report on the prevention of future deaths to the Treasury and the head of the civil service, suggesting a potential wider issue within government.
A Treasury spokesperson stated that the department continues to mourn Ms. Moffat and that their thoughts are with her family and friends. The spokesperson added that the Treasury takes the coroner's concerns extremely seriously and is considering the findings carefully. The department has reportedly introduced improvements to guidance, support, and wellbeing arrangements but acknowledges the need for continued action to prevent future occurrences.