UK Treasury Found to Have Materially Contributed to 26-Year-Old Worker's Death
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
UK Treasury Found to Have Materially Contributed to 26-Year-Old Worker's Death
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
Summary
Surrey Coroner's Court found the Treasury materially contributed to Chloe Moffat's death after the 26-year-old employee took her own life a day after managers confronted her over allegations she denied.
The inquest heard officials bypassed written disciplinary policy, which would have told Moffat by letter that the likely penalty—if the claims were proven—was a written warning, not dismissal.
At a 19 May meeting Moffat believed was a routine one-to-one, a senior manager said they could not predict the outcome; she left distressed and texted a friend that she thought she would be sacked.
Assistant coroner Anna Crawford called the Treasury's fact-finding meeting practice a concern and said she will send a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Treasury, the civil service head and Acas.
Moffat's family said the department failed in its duty of care, while the Treasury said it is considering the findings carefully and has already improved guidance, support and wellbeing arrangements.