An inquest has ruled that the Treasury materially contributed to the death of 26-year-old Chloe Moffat, who died by suicide in May last year. The investigation found that the department's handling of disciplinary proceedings regarding anonymous complaints failed to meet established HR standards.
The Treasury's failure to follow its written Discipline Policy and Procedure
The coroner determined that the meeting held on May 19 was not conducted in accordance with the Treasury's established HR protocols. specifically, the inquest found that the department failed to provide Ms. moffat with the necessary details of the allegations in a written letter prior to the meeting. Instead, she was called into a session that left her feeling certain she would be terminated.
According to the report, the coroner noted that there was already sufficient information available before the meeting to determine the level of potential misconduct. By failig to apply the written Discipline Policy and Procedure correctly,the Treasury missed the opportunity to provide the necessary safeguarding measures required when dealing with allegations of serious misconduct.
The gap between "fact-finding" labels and "serious misconduct" emails
A significant discrepancy emerged during the inquest regarding how the Treasury characterized the meeeting to Ms. Moffat. While Treasury staff described the encounter as an informal "fact-finding" mission, internal emails revealed a different reality. The report states that directors had already internally classified the alleged misconduct as "serious" before the meeting took place.
This lack of transparency appears to have directly impacted Ms. Moffat's mental state. After the meeting, she reportedly messaed a friend stating, "I am going to be fired," and was seen in central London in a state of extreme distress. The coroner's findings suggest that the Treasury failed to reassure her that her employment was not immediately at risk, a failure that exacerbated her concern regarding her professional reputation.
An unblemished three-year tenure and an unreceived bonus
The inquest highlighted the tragic irony of Ms. Moffat's professional standing at the time of her death. Having worked as a personal assistant at the Treasury for three years, her employment record was described as unblemished. Emails from directors further supported this, characterizing her as a highly regarded member of the staff.
Furthermore, the report notes that Ms. Moffat had recently completed an end-of-year review and had been awarded a bonus. However, she had not yet been notified of this reward when the disciplinary meeting occurred. This context underscores the sudden and unexpected nature of the distress caused by the "vexatious" complaints.
The mystery of the anonymous and "vexatious" complaints
While the inquest has provided clarity on the Treasury's procedural failures, several critical questions remain unanswered. The source does not identify the individuals behind the anonymous complaints that triggered the disciplinary process. It remains unclear what specific conduct was being alleged or why these claims were deemed "vexatious" by the coroner.
Additionally, there is no information regarding whether the Treasury will face formal disciplinary action or systemic changes to its safeguarding protocols following these findings. The identity of the complainants and the specific nature of the office gossip that led to this tragedy remain the most significant gaps in the public record.
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