To expense or not to expense, that is the question.
Posted 4 April 2008 at 8:24AM by Hannah Gilchrist in Investment and finance
Working out what to expense when you're out with colleagues or customers is tricky for even the most dedicated manager. But how many times have you popped a lunch, coffee or even evening out on your expenses credit card?
Most of us would feel slightly guilty for using a company credit card for personal gain, yet most UK employees are pocketing an extra £17 a month thanks to claims fiddling. A recent survey by Travelodge has uncovered that some workers have even charged plastic surgery, a diamond ring, escorts, council tax and Viagra onto company accounts, but should this be considered lying, stealing or both? And could it cost you your job?
Well it seems you can call it what you like, but only 8% of UK employees have been caught and fired for swindling their expenses. So with statistics like that is it the honest employees who are truly missing out? An extra £204 a year could sit quite nicely in a holiday savings account, or you could of course just put that quick trip to Barbados down to entertaining clients.
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Tags: bt, bt broadbandoffice, bt web expenses, expenses
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Comments
2. At April 4, 2008 4:50 PM, Neil Casey-Johnston wrote:
Somewhere, someone cares - it may be the financial director, shareholders, banks or the MD himself as it's his own money at stake. Or the Inland Revenue or VAT man if relief has been provided on fraudulent claims.
You may well feel powerless - you could try and identify someone who has the power and alert them anonymously. Or send round this email chain for example as an 'interesting story' - I was stunned that as many as 8% have been caught! Or start talking about the process when submitting your own claims. Maybe find out if the company would benefit from software to manage expenses. The purpose would not be to rat on people but to see if the company can implement the policy to stamp this out.
Personally, I think leaving is the easiest thing to do - doing something about it is the hardest.. Good luck..
3. At April 7, 2008 2:11 PM, Big Show wrote:
I'd relax my moral code personally. Big Show hits his exepense account hard. Mainly on sandwiches.
4. At April 7, 2008 3:24 PM, Lesley wrote:
I think its terrible, but this must be down to the business itself to pick up on these things surely they should be checking the expense accounts themselves. Sometimes it doues'nt always pay to be honest!!
5. At April 7, 2008 3:54 PM, health and safety training guy wrote:
Charging Viagra to your company expenses is outrageous! I think it's important that expenses are properly examined - it's other employees that miss out if people are taking advantage.
6. At April 7, 2008 4:04 PM, Robert B wrote:
It all comes down to integrity. Taking a sickie, or an extra 5 minutes on your tea-break is also stealing from your employer. And what about our elected representatives stealing our taxes through "expenses"?
7. At April 8, 2008 2:33 PM, Jimmy wrote:
"Charging Viagra to your company expenses is outrageous!"
Yeah I bet the companies expenses took a sharp rise that day :).
8. At April 9, 2008 1:16 PM, Paul wrote:
Staff birthday cards and pressies is this a fiddle, also food for your own dogs as they are promotional animals on our literature where does it all end!!!
9. At April 9, 2008 2:56 PM, health and safety training guy wrote:
@ Jimmy
haha!
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1. At April 4, 2008 9:16 AM, R A wrote: