Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old personal assistant at the UK Treasury, took her own life the day after a disciplinary meeting over an anonymous complaint, an inquest heard. Her mother, Anne Moffat, is now calling for the department to change its practices, including mandatory mental health assessments during disciplinary proceedings.
Exemplary record and sudden death
Moffat had worked at the Treasury for nearly three years and was described as having an 'exemplary employment record'. She was in line for promotion and had been awarded a bonus she never learned about before her death. The inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court heard that she 'loved her job'.
The disciplinary meeting
Moffat was called into a meeting with her line manager and a senior manager, the Treasury's head of global issues, without prior notice of the subject or the senior manager's attendance. She was told an anonymous complaint alleged she had shared confidential information about colleagues, which she accessed through managing her director's email. Her access to the director's diary and email was temporarily removed.
Distress and lack of support
During the meeting, Moffat was 'shocked, crying at points, distressed, overwhelmed', according to her line manager. She asked for her best friend at work multiple times, but the senior manager said this 'would be inappropriate'. Moffat was not offered a friend, trade union representative, or colleague as support. The senior manager explained that 'any alternative attendee would have made the meeting feel more formal'.
When asked by coroner Anna Crawford why Moffat was not notified beforehand to prepare, the senior manager replied: 'No, this could cause unnecessary stress.' Moffat denied the allegations, and the senior manager began drafting a letter about a formal investigation but delayed sending it to check on Moffat's wellbeing. Moffat died the following day.
Impact on Moffat
Friends and family said Moffat was 'convinced' she would be dismissed. A friend received a text from Moffat after the meeting: 'Helena, I am going to be fired.' They met in St James's Park, where Moffat 'broke down crying'. The friend said she 'reassured Chloe, but she remained distressed' and was 'incredibly concerned about the reputational impact'.
Mother's call for change
Anne Moffat stated: 'The evidence establishes a clear sequence of events. Had Chloe been properly supported and advised of her rights before the meeting, she would not have been so devastated and isolated.' She is calling for the Treasury to 'require an assessment of employees' mental welfare in disciplinary proceedings' and ensure that where serious misconduct is alleged, the matter is treated formally from the outset with the accused informed of their rights.
Treasury's response
The Treasury is changing its disciplinary proceedings as a result of Moffat's death. A senior HR adviser said the department is piloting new advice for staff dealing with disciplinary matters, and managers are receiving additional training. However, when asked if Moffat should have been told she was unlikely to lose her job, a senior HR business partner said that would have been 'unhelpful' at that stage. Moffat's line manager said: 'No, I think we did all we could at the time with the information and advice we were given.'
Anne Moffat concluded: 'Our hope is that lessons will be learned. The risks must be recognised so no other family will experience a loss like this.' The inquest continues.
