A survey of 2,200 US chief financial officers (CFOs) found that 23 per cent of companies have seen an increase in inappropriate expense requests in the past three years. In comparison, the Robert Half Management Resources survey found that 11 per cent of executives reported a drop in improper requests. Some of the more ridiculous claims include taxidermy and a “doggie day spa”. A longer list of items puts Britain's MP expenses scandal in the shade, although there are no signs of US corporate employees claiming for a duck house. The US CFOs saw expense claims for the following items:

• New car
• Rental homes
• Vacations
• Flat-screen TV
• Toilet paper
• Doggie day spa
• Loans
• Rent
• 10-cent parking-meter charge
• Medications
• Taxidermy
• Dance classes

Creative expense claims costly for business... 

Amusing though the list is, this is actually a serious problem for businesses, says Tim Hird, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources in the US, saying: “Inappropriate expense reports are costly – both to the company's bottom line and to the careers of the people who submit them.”

...and for those who submit them

Companies should ensure their expense reporting process is simple and that expense-claiming policy is spelled out clearly. Robert Half suggests that employees should ask themselves three questions before submitting an expense report:

1. Is this within the company policy? Before preparing an expense report, review your organization's guidelines. If you have questions, check with your manager or human resources representative. Taking a few minutes at the outset can spare the embarrassment of an inappropriate request.
2. Could there be any confusion? Clear any request that could be interpreted as a personal expense with your manager beforehand. If your boss doesn't know the baseball tickets you bought were to entertain a client, for example, you could unnecessarily put yourself in hot water.
3. Would Grandma approve? 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.