A Mother's Demand for Change: How Treasury's Disciplinary Failings Led to Her Daughter's Death

A Family's Grief Fuels a Call for Workplace Reform

The mother of a young Treasury employee who died by suicide is demanding the government department overhaul the way it handles disciplinary proceedings — after evidence at an inquest revealed a series of failures that left her daughter feeling isolated, terrified, and convinced she had lost her job.

Chloe Moffat, 26, had spent nearly three years working as a personal assistant at HM Treasury. By all accounts, she was a dedicated and well-regarded employee. A coroner hearing her case this week was told she "loved her job" and held an "exemplary employment record." She had been earmarked for promotion and had even been awarded a bonus for outstanding performance — a recognition she never lived to receive.

What Happened in That Meeting

Moffat's world unravelled following an unannounced disciplinary meeting with her line manager and the Treasury's head of global issues. She was given no prior warning about the meeting's agenda, nor was she told a senior manager would be present.

During the meeting, Moffat was informed that an anonymous complaint had been lodged against her, alleging she had shared confidential information about colleagues — information she had access to through managing her director's email inbox. Her access to that inbox and her director's diary was immediately suspended.

When Moffat asked whether she would lose her job, the senior manager told the court she responded: "I said I couldn't predict any outcome of any potential investigation." Despite the fact that dismissal was considered unlikely at that stage, Moffat was not reassured of this.

At several points during the meeting, Moffat asked for her best friend at work to be present. That request was denied. "We felt this would be inappropriate," the senior manager told the coroner. When coroner Anna Crawford pressed further — asking why no friend, trade union representative, or colleague was offered — the senior manager explained: "Any alternative attendee would have made the meeting feel more formal."

The coroner also questioned why Moffat had not been given advance notice of the serious allegations so she could prepare herself or seek support. The senior manager replied: "No, this could cause unnecessary stress."

'I Am Going to Be Fired'

Moffat left the meeting in a state of profound distress. A close friend told the inquest she received a text message from Moffat shortly afterwards that read simply: "I am going to be fired." The two met in St James's Park in central London, where Moffat "broke down crying." Though her friend tried to offer reassurance, Moffat remained deeply shaken and was described as "incredibly concerned about the reputational impact" of the allegations against her.

Those who knew Moffat described her as someone who "took great pride in her work" and "fixed everyone's problems." One colleague remarked that she "never made a mistake." Friends who gathered at the coroner's court in her memory painted a picture of a vibrant, caring young woman — one who, as a friend told the Guardian, "never told a boring story or wore a boring outfit."

The following day, Chloe Moffat took her own life.

Her Line Manager's Regret — or Lack Thereof

One of the more striking moments of the inquest came when Moffat's line manager — who had been assigned as her "pastoral care" contact despite also having a direct oversight role in the disciplinary matter — was asked whether she would have done anything differently.

"No, I think we did all we could at the time with the information and advice we were given," she told the court.

A senior HR business partner at the Treasury also told the inquest that informing Moffat she was unlikely to be dismissed — despite her visible distress — would have been "unhelpful" at that stage of proceedings.

A Mother's Plea for Systemic Change

Moffat's mother, Anne, has been clear about what she believes must change. Speaking after the inquest, she said: "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 on the Treasury to introduce mandatory assessments of employees' mental welfare during disciplinary proceedings and to ensure that where serious or gross misconduct is alleged, the process is treated as formal from the outset — with the employee being informed of their rights.

"Our hope is that lessons will be learned," Anne Moffat said. "The risks must be recognised so no other family will experience a loss like this."

Treasury Acknowledges Shortcomings

The Treasury has confirmed it is making changes to its disciplinary processes in the wake of Moffat's death. A senior HR adviser told the inquest that the department is piloting new guidance for staff involved in disciplinary matters, while lawyers acting on its behalf confirmed that managers are receiving additional training.

Whether those changes go far enough remains to be seen — but for Anne Moffat, no reform can undo what was lost.

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If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the UK, contact Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia, Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14. In the US, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255. International resources are available at befrienders.org.