An inquest has heard that a 26-year-old Treasury employee died by suicide one day after attending an unexpected workplace meeting that left her believing her career was over.
Evidence presented at Surrey Coroner’s Court described how Chloe Moffat, regarded by colleagues as an outstanding employee, became overwhelmed after learning she was the subject of allegations involving confidential information.
The proceedings are examining whether the handling of the meeting and subsequent support provided to Ms Moffat contributed to the events that followed her death in May last year.
Respected Employee Was Viewed as a Strong Performer
Ms Moffat had spent nearly three years working as a personal assistant within the Treasury and was reportedly on track for career progression.
The court previously heard she had received a performance bonus and maintained what the coroner described as an “exemplary employment record.”
Family members and colleagues told the inquest that she was deeply committed to her role, took pride in her work, and had never previously encountered disciplinary issues.
Anonymous Allegation Prompted Unexpected Meeting
The hearing was told that Ms Moffat was summoned to a meeting without prior warning about its purpose.
Present were her line manager and the Treasury’s head of global issues, where she was informed of an anonymous complaint alleging she had disclosed confidential information obtained through her access to her director’s email inbox.
Witnesses said the allegations came as a complete shock.
During the meeting, Ms Moffat reportedly became visibly distressed, crying as the discussion continued.
Request for Support Was Declined
Evidence presented to the court indicated that Ms Moffat asked if her closest friend at work could accompany her during the meeting.
According to testimony from her line manager, the request was refused because it was considered inappropriate.
When Ms Moffat asked directly whether she would lose her job, the senior manager told the inquest she responded that it was impossible to predict the outcome of any potential investigation.
Although the Treasury later stated that the meeting was part of an initial fact-finding process rather than a formal disciplinary hearing, the court heard Ms Moffat left believing dismissal was inevitable.
Workplace Restrictions Increased Her Anxiety
Following the meeting, Ms Moffat temporarily lost access to her director’s email account and diary.
She was also instructed not to discuss the allegations or the potential investigation with colleagues.
The inquest heard that responsibility for her pastoral support rested with her line manager despite that manager also being directly involved in overseeing the situation.
Family members and friends said these developments reinforced her belief that she was about to be dismissed from her position.
Friends Recall Her Fear After the Meeting
A close friend testified that Ms Moffat sent a text message shortly after the meeting stating, “I am going to be fired.”
The pair later met in central London, where the friend said Ms Moffat broke down in tears and expressed intense concern about the damage the allegations could cause to her professional reputation.
Despite attempts to reassure her that the situation might not result in dismissal, the friend told the court that Ms Moffat remained deeply distressed throughout their conversation.
Family Calls for Changes to Employee Welfare Procedures
Ms Moffat’s mother, Anne Moffat, has urged the Treasury to introduce stronger safeguards for employees facing allegations of serious or gross misconduct.
She believes departments should be required to assess an employee’s mental wellbeing before and during such proceedings.
Addressing the inquest, she said her family’s hope was that lessons would be learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Anne Moffat also argued that had her daughter received clearer guidance about her rights and more appropriate support before the meeting, she would not have felt so isolated or devastated.
Treasury Introduces Reforms During Ongoing Inquest
Lawyers representing the Treasury told the court that the department has already begun making changes to its disciplinary procedures, including additional training for managers involved in handling sensitive employment matters.
Ms Moffat’s line manager maintained during testimony that staff believed they had acted appropriately based on the information available at the time.
In a statement, a Treasury spokesperson said the department remained deeply saddened by Ms Moffat’s death and extended its condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.
The spokesperson also reiterated that the meeting in question had been intended as an early fact-finding discussion rather than a formal disciplinary hearing.
The inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court remains ongoing, with proceedings scheduled to conclude on August 10.
