How Poor Expense Claim Management Impacts Team Morale and Productivity

Henry Sack • March 20, 2022

When it comes to managing business expenses, many organisations struggle with outdated and inefficient processes. From employees submitting paper receipts to managers manually approving claims, the whole process can be time-consuming and frustrating for everyone involved.


This not only impacts the bottom line but can also have a negative effect on team morale and productivity. In fact, a study by American Express found that nearly half of employees say they waste time at work dealing with expenses.


What is expense claim management and why is it important for businesses?

Expense claim management is the process of collecting, processing, and approving employee expense claims. This includes verifying that the expenses are legitimate business expenses, ensuring that they are properly documented, and approving them for reimbursement. Expense claim management is important for businesses because it helps to control costs and improve efficiency. By having a clear and efficient system for managing expenses, businesses can save money by avoiding overspending on unnecessary expenses. In addition, an effective expense claim management system can help to improve employee morale by ensuring that employees are reimbursed promptly and correctly for their legitimate business expenses.


How can improper expense claim management lead to decreased team morale and productivity levels?

If expense claim management isn't handled properly, it can have a negative impact on team morale and productivity levels. When employees are reimbursed late or not at all, it can lead to frustration and resentment. This can then lead to increased absenteeism, as well as decreased productivity levels. In order to avoid this, it's important to have a system in place that is efficient and effective. This way, employees will be reimbursed in a timely manner and will be less likely to experience any negative feelings towards the company. By taking these steps, you can help to ensure that your team remains happy and productive and doesn't jump on the "Quiet Quitting" bandwagon.


Examples of how employees can abuse their company's expense claim policy

There are a number of ways that employees can abuse their company's expense claim policy. One common example is claiming expenses for personal trips or purchases. Another is submitting false or inflated receipts in order to receive higher reimbursement. Additionally, some employees may attempt to claim business expenses that are not actually related to their job. For example, they may try to expense a new suit as a "business necessity," even though it was actually purchased for personal use. Finally, some employees may simply avoid submitting any expenses at all, resulting in the company paying for their personal travel and other purchases. While most employees follow the rules and submit honest claims, there are always a few who try to take advantage of the system. As a result, companies must be careful to monitor their expense claim policies and investigate any suspicious activity. This is where expense management software is vital. A good expense management platform, like NetSuite and Webexpenses, helps increase the transparency of expense claims and ensures that employees are following the right procedures, and only claiming for expenses that are allowed under your internal expense policy.


Tips on how to properly manage your business' employee expenses in order to maintain a positive work environment

As a business owner, you know that happy employees are key to a successful company. One of the best ways to keep your employees happy is to make sure their expenses are being managed properly. Here are some tips on how to do just that:


First, make sure you have a system in place for approving employee expenses. This will ensure that only legitimate expenses are being reimbursed and will help to prevent fraud.


Second, set clear guidelines for what types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement. This will help employees to understand what they can and cannot spend company money on.


Finally, be prompt in processing expense reports. Waiting too long to reimburse employees can cause frustration and may even lead to them seeking employment elsewhere.


By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your employees are happy and that your business is running smoothly.


About TeamBlueSky

TeamBlueSky are a proud partner of Webexpenses, offering a full suite of Webexpenses products either under a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) or a simple implementation and handover model. Both offerings deliver smart, scalable and cost-effective solutions for all organisations.


Get In Touch
Henry Sack Team Blue Sky

Henry Sack

General Manager

Team Blue Sky Logo

With over 12 years of experience as a NetSuite implementation consultant, Henry Sack leads TeamBlueSky’s team of NetSuite and accounting experts in his role of General Manager.


TeamBlueSky is a leading Australian NetSuite Alliance Partner whose mission is to provide critical NetSuite BPO and Payroll services to NetSuite clients who are wanting to simplify their back office processes and partner with a leading NetSuite administration expert. 


TeamBlueSky have also partnered with global Suite Developer Network partners to offer local solutioning, implementation and support services for global NetSuite SuiteApps. 


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