By carefully checking employees’ expenses, 37% of company bosses admitted they have identified situations where staff have claimed for costs they didn’t pay for, additional mileage they didn’t travel and unnecessary or excess costs.
As the public question MPs’ allowances and the remit of what they can claim for, 65% of business owners view claiming expenses as a business formality with 79% saying they don’t expect employees to cover operational costs.
As well as staff being able to claim for standard expenses such as business mileage (93%), mobile phone calls (73%) and tools and equipment (65%), it seems small businesses are also very generous with one in five allowing staff to claim for clothes, 21% for insurance and 15% for medical care. Covering costs for business and staff entertainment is also accepted with one in five (21%) claiming costs for staff parties and over half for alcohol (53%) when entertaining.
In addition, small firms allow staff to claim for items that support them in their work. These include professional memberships (57%), training (63%), stationery (59%) and 60% said staff can claim for home office equipment, utility bills and the internet to enable them to work from home.
Chris Little, managing director of Premierline Direct, who commissioned the survey, said: “It’s great to see small business owners taking a responsible approach to managing their funds and keeping a close eye on employees’ expenses. In the current climate where every penny counts, establishing good practice extends to monitoring all operating costs. There has never been a better time for businesses to shop around and find a business insurance provider that not only gives a great price, but also offers added value services and support in running a successful business.”
Business owners bang on the money with employee claims
