Placing the Blame for Inflated Expenses: This Week in the Back Office

Cavalier Managers Would Be Happy to Approve That Ludicrous Expense

A new Concur survey finds that managers share the blame for inflated expense reports. Thirty-nine percent of managers surveyed copped to approving an expense report they didn't think was compliant. The reason? Expenses are a pain, managers are busy, and rules and policies are too complex.

“Workplace expenses can often be a complicated minefield for employees and managers,” Concur's Chris Baker tells PYMNTS.com. “This is exacerbated by archaic, time-consuming processes and unclear boundaries of what does and does not constitute an acceptable claim.”

Last year, JPMorgan found that $1 billion of the $186 billion spent on travel and entertainment expenses in the U.S. were fraudulent, and that small businesses are most susceptible to T&E fraud. As Concur's Baker says, it's a minefield out there — but automated expense reporting software and tools can decrease reporting hassles and ensure reports follow company policies.

Check out the full story.

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