Expensive lessons

The recession, supposedly, put a dent in wild and crazy expense reports, from lavish hotel stays to extravagant lunches.

But the nuttiest of nutty ones, according to one new survey from human resources consulting firm Robert Half Management Resources, might be making a comeback. To wit: chief financial officers nationwide, the survey reports, have seen employees ask for reimbursement for everything from rental homes to beef in bulk to toilet paper. Only 11% of respondents have noticed a drop in inappropriate requests over the past few years, while 20% say there has been “somewhat” of an increase.
CFOs, the survey says, cited the following examples of unusual items submitted for expense reimbursement: 

A new car;

Rental homes;

Vacations;

Flat-screen TV;

Doggie day spa;

Rent;

10-cent parking-meter charge;

Medications;

Taxidermy;

Dance classes; and from the Bernie Sanders wing of expense reports, “somebody else's salary.”

But it's not all fun and games. “These outlandish and sometimes funny examples shed light on what can be a serious problem for businesses,” says Tim Hird, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, in a statement. “Inappropriate expense reports are costly - both to the company's bottom line and to the careers of the people who submit them.”
Hird and other Robert Half Management Resources experts suggest companies take steps to avoid outlandish expenses, starting with being sure to have simplified guidelines of what's allowed and what isn't allowed. After that, make sure employees know two basic rules: Don't surprise the boss by submitting something unusual without prior verbal approval, and go with grandma. On the latter Robert Half states: “Got an item that's on the border of being inappropriate? Think about what your family might say. If you'd be embarrassed to talk to a parent or grandparent about something, don't try to expense it.”