Treasury worker, 26, killed herself one day after anonymous complaint | News UK

A 26-year-old Treasury worker took her own life one day after an anonymous complaint was made about her, an inquest has heard.

Chloe Moffat ‘loved’ her role as a personal assistant in the government department, which she held for three years, and had an ‘exemplary employment record’.

She was also in line for a promotion after receiving a bonus for her work. Moffat died before she could hear the good news.

During the inquest at the Surrey coroner’s court, witnesses heard how Moffat was driven to a state of ‘distress’ following a meeting last May about the complaint.

The meeting was attended by her line manager and the Treasury’s head of global issues, but Moffat was not informed ahead of time what it would be about.

Senior Treasury staff did not reassure her that her job was safe during the disciplinary process, the court also heard, even though a dismissal was unlikely.

When she did ask if there was a possibility of being sacked, Moffat was told by a senior manager that she ‘couldn’t predict the outcome of any potential investigation’.

She was not allowed to bring a third party to the meeting either, and when Moffat asked her manager if she could bring her friend into the proceedings for support, she was told it would be ‘inappropriate’.

Questioned by the coroner, Anna Crawford, on why Moffat was not permitted a trade union representative or other colleague, the senior manager said: ‘Any alternative attendee would have made the meeting feel more formal.’

The coroner then asked: ‘Given these allegations, that were potentially serious, were going to be raised with her, was any consideration given to notifying her so she could prepare herself, seek support and respond?’

‘No, this could cause unnecessary stress,’ replied the senior manager.

She added that Moffat denied any accusations, so she ‘started to draft a letter’ to notify her of a formal investigation.

‘I was going to wait to send it until [the line manager] and I had spoken to Chloe to see how she was.’

The complaint in question accused Moffat of sharing confidential information about colleagues, which she could access since she managed her director’s inbox.

She had been advised not to speak to her co-workers about the matter, and she temporarily lost access to her director’s emails and diary.

When informed of the anonymous filing, Moffat appeared ‘shocked’ and started ‘crying at points’.

Her family recalled how ‘devastated’ she was in the aftermath and ‘convinced’ she would lose her job.

They further described her as someone who ‘took great pride in her work’ and ‘never made a mistake’.

A friend told the court that Moffat sent her a text on the same day the proceedings were initiated, reading: ‘I am going to be fired.’

This friend then met up with her in central London, where Moffat ‘broke down’ and expressed her concerns about the ‘reputational impact’ of the allegations made, all despite her pal’s attempts at reassurance.

Moffat died by suicide the next day.

Her grieving mother, Anne, is now calling for an overhaul in Treasury practices, with the inquest having heard how Moffat’s line manager should’ve been in charge of her ‘pastoral care’, despite her direct oversight role.

‘The evidence establishes a clear sequence of events,’ said Anne.

‘Had Chloe been properly supported and advised of her rights before the meeting, she would not have been so devastated and isolated.’

She is pushing for the department to be required to ‘assess employees’ mental welfare’ amid disciplinary proceedings. It is understood that changes are already being implemented.

Where serious or gross misconduct is alleged, she adds the matter should be ‘treated as formal from the outset, and the accused is informed of their rights’.

Lawyers representing the department have stated that managers are undergoing additional training, with a Treasury spokesperson saying: ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Chloe last year. 

‘Our thoughts remain with her family, friends and those affected by her loss.’

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