The short version
- An inquest concluded that the Treasury failed to follow its own written disciplinary policies regarding an employee who died by suicide.
- The victim's father criticized the department for lacking safeguarding measures and refusing to allow support during a critical meeting.
- Officials have pledged to implement immediate changes to wellbeing guidance while families seek further redress.
A coroner has determined that the United Kingdom Treasury materially contributed to the death of Chloe Moffat, a twenty-six-year-old civil service employee who took her own life in May 2025. The ruling highlights significant failures in the department's duty of care and disciplinary procedures, drawing sharp criticism from Moffat’s family and raising broader questions about workplace safety within government institutions.
Moffat served as a personal assistant to a Treasury director. On May 19, 2025, she attended what she believed was a routine one-on-one meeting with her line manager. However, a more senior manager was also present, signaling the seriousness of the occasion. During this session, officials presented allegations that Moffat had shared sensitive and confidential information regarding colleagues, claims she firmly denied.
According to David Moffat, Chloe’s father, the atmosphere during the encounter was intense and unsupported. He noted that his daughter repeatedly asked whether she would lose her job and requested the presence of a friend for support. Both requests were refused by management. Immediately following the meeting, Moffat was locked out of her email accounts, a move her father described as part of a shocking and overwhelming experience for her.
The subsequent inquest revealed that the Treasury did not adhere to its own written disciplinary policy. Had the department followed established protocols, it would have been clear that even if the allegations were proven true, the likely penalty would have been a written warning rather than dismissal. Instead, managers told Moffat they could not determine the outcome of the proceedings, leaving her in a state of uncertainty and distress.
David Moffat has expressed profound disappointment with the department’s response, stating that the lack of safeguarding and support beggars belief. He emphasized that there was no duty of care shown to his daughter during or after the critical meeting. The loss has devastated the family, creating what he described as a large hole in their lives. He questioned how an organization central to government operations could fail so significantly in its basic responsibilities.
The coroner’s findings established a direct link between the Treasury’s actions and Moffat’s death. This legal determination places formal responsibility on the department for the manner in which it handled the disciplinary process. The ruling underscores the potential dangers of opaque administrative procedures and the psychological impact of sudden professional isolation on vulnerable employees.
In response to the tragedy, the Treasury has issued statements expressing deep sympathy for Moffat’s friends and family. A spokesperson confirmed that the department is mourning its colleague and is working urgently to respond to the coroner’s findings. Immediate changes have been introduced to guidance, support structures, and wellbeing arrangements within the organization.
James Bowler, the Treasury’s permanent secretary, has met with Moffat’s parents and sent them a letter outlining steps being taken. While the family acknowledges these efforts, they remain unsure whether to pursue further legal action against the department. Their primary goal is to ensure that lessons are learned from this unbearable loss, seeking redress and systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The case has sparked wider discussions about mental health support and disciplinary fairness in the public sector. Advocates argue that government bodies must prioritize employee wellbeing alongside administrative efficiency. As the Treasury implements new protocols, scrutiny will likely remain on whether these measures are sufficient to protect staff from undue pressure and procedural failures.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Dad of woman who took her own life says Treasury failed in its duty of care
