A coroner has ruled that HM Treasury’s failure to follow internal disciplinary protocols contributed to the death of 26-year-old Chloe Moffat. Ms. Moffat took her own life in May last year after a meeting regarding an anonymous allegation left her fearing for her livelihood.
The failure to follow HM Treasury's written Discipline Policy
At a hearing in Surrey Coroners' Court, Coroner Anna Crawford concluded that the government department's handling of a disciplinary matter was a contributing factor in the tragedy. According to the report, HM Treasury failed to adhere to its own written Discipline Policy and Procedure during an investigation into allegations that Ms. Moffat had leaked confidential information.
The coroner specifically noted that the department did not inform Ms. Moffat that the likely outcome of the investigation would be a written warning rather than dismissal. This lack of transparency regarding the potential sanctions left the young personal assistant in a state of extreme distress,as the department failed to apply its established protocols during a critical moment.
The lost potential of a 26-year-old with a bonus and promotion track
Chloe Moffat was described as an "exemplary" employee who had dedicated three years to her role at HM Treasury. As the inquest heard, Ms. Moffat was not a struggling staff member; she had recently received a bonus for her high-qulaity work and was actively on a course for a promotion.
Despite her professional success, the meeting with senior Treasury staff left her "devastated." The contrast between her established career trajectory and her sudden, overwhelming fear of job loss highlights the profound psychological impact of the department's approach to the investigation.
The discrepancy between a written warning and dismissal fears
The core of the coroner's finding rests on the gap between the actual disciplinary consequences and Ms. Moffat's perception of them. Ms. Crawford ruled that managers should have provided reassurance that dismissal was unlikely, even if the allegations were proven true.
As the report states, Ms. Moffat left the meeting convinced she had been sacked.. Because the Treasury failed to clarify that a written warning was the probable sanction, she was left to face the perceived end of her career,leading to her death at her parents' home the following day. This failure to communicate the likely severity of the situation proved to be a fatal error in judgment.
The mystery of the anonymous complaint and the unnamed senior staff
While the coroner's ruling focuses on the Treasury's procedural failures, several aspects of the initial incident remain unaddressed. The source of the anonymous complaint that sparked the disciplinary proceedings has not been identified, nor has it been clarified how the allegation of leaking confidential information was initially vetted by the department.
Furthermore, the specific senior Treasury staff members who conducted the meeting have not been named in the public findings. It remains to be seen whether the department will implement systemic changes to ensure that other employees are not subjected to similar procedural lapses during sensitive investigations.
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