How to avoid being left out of pocket by work expenses

Disputed claims can leave workers frustrated and low on cash. VICKY SHAW offers some handy advice

- VICKY SHAW

PUTTING in claims for workrelated expenses is a necessary chore for many employees - but new research reveals the process can see workers lose out financially.

Employees tend to expense between £100 and £500 per month, the survey for payments technology company Caxton found.

For many, that money came out of their own pockets. In fact, 41% of the employees surveyed said they'd normally make business-related purchases with their own personal credit or debit card, and 12% use their own cash. Meanwhile, one in three (30%) use a corporate credit or debit card.

The wait to be reimbursed can have an impact on employees' own financial wellbeing, with one in three saying it takes up to a month for claims to land in their account.

The research, which quizzed 1,000 employees and 500 managers across the UK, also revealed some "grey areas" when it comes to making claims.

Nine in 10 employees say their business has an official expenses policy - leaving a minority perhaps guessing over what they can and can't claim for.

Nearly a third (29%) of the employees polled say they have made a business-related purchase and expensed the cost without getting approval beforehand.

This could potentially lead to them being left out of pocket if a claim is later rejected.

In addition, one in seven (13%) in the survey admit to claiming business expenses for purchases that were not work-related.