UK Treasury must change disciplinary process after worker's suicide, mother says

The mother of a young Treasury employee who died by suicide is urging the government department to reform its disciplinary processes following an inquest into her daughter's death.

“

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.

Chloe Moffat, 26, worked as a personal assistant at the Treasury for nearly three years. The coroner at her inquest heard that she loved her job, had an "exemplary employment record," and was in line for a promotion, having received a bonus for good work that she never learned about before her death.

Witnesses at the Surrey coroners' court stated that Moffat was driven to "distress" by a meeting concerning an anonymous complaint. During the disciplinary process, the court heard, she was not assured that her job was safe, despite it being unlikely she would be dismissed. She was also denied the presence of a third party of her choice in the meeting. This process left her "devastated" and convinced she had lost her job. The day after the meeting, Moffat took her own life.

“

require an assessment of employees’ mental welfare in disciplinary proceedings

Her mother, Anne, 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 to treat allegations of serious or gross misconduct as formal from the outset, informing the accused of their rights.

“

where serious or gross misconduct is alleged, the matter is treated as formal from the outset and the accused is informed of their rights

The court heard that Moffat was called into a meeting with her line manager and a senior manager without prior notice of the meeting's subject or the senior manager's attendance. She was informed of an anonymous complaint alleging she shared confidential information about colleagues. During the meeting, she was visibly "shocked, crying at points, distressed, overwhelmed," according to her line manager. When Moffat asked if she would lose her job, she was told the outcome of any potential investigation could not be predicted. Her requests to have a friend or colleague present were denied, with one manager stating that an alternative attendee "would have made the meeting feel more formal."

“

I said I couldn’t predict any outcome of any potential investigation.