• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
Successremote work

An expensing firm CFO just revealed how remote work changes employee perks: ‘Things are much more likely to be expensed than if you’re at your office’

By
Jane Thier
Jane Thier
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jane Thier
Jane Thier
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 9, 2023, 3:10 PM ET
Woman using phone and credit card outside on bench
There's no such thing as free lunch. But there may be such thing as free concert tickets. d3sign - Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

What counts as a business expense?

Recommended Video

Depending on who you ask—or how closely your manager is keeping an eye on you—the answer could be as straightforward as an ergonomic desk chair or as outlandish as Taylor Swift tickets. 

Last month, Brex, the spending platform whose flagship product is business credit cards, analyzed the past year of expenses made by 20,000 companies—mostly in tech—that use its platform. Turns out well-compensated workers have an extra-loose definition of “business expense.”

But it’s not a big deal, Michael Tannenbaum, CFO-COO of the company, tells Fortune. And even the more outlandish and flashy purchases might actually be reasonable, he says. 

Some of the most shocking charges Brex users made this year include:

  • A membership fee to a private network for digital nomads ($1,300)
  • A $350 haircut
  • A 35% uptick in receipts mentioning “pickleball”
  • The cost of full apartment soundproofing 
  • Taylor Swift tickets (bought 47 times) 
  • Beyoncé tickets (bought 19 times) 
  • Formula 1 race tickets ($2,500)
  • Fifa Women’s World Cup tickets ($2,800)
  • Food (Smallest reimbursed expense was $.19 for gum, the largest was $21,000 for a New York “VIP dinner”)

Tannenbaum characterizes Brex’s user base as forward-thinking. The fact that each of the expenses on this list was approved is also a sign of our current work climate—a remote world in which the power remains in the employee’s hands, Tannenbaum says. 

Expensing $350 haircuts is the result of today’s work environment

Each of these expenses were made, presumably, by a worker who believed it aligned with their company’s general ethos. “That dictates a lot of these things,” Tannenbaum says. Still, each company has different expectations, and they give their workers a different level of freedom to cash out on the company’s dime.

The tightest-leash scenario is “where a few employees have a [company] card, and everything’s done by reimbursement, and you can’t get reimbursed if it’s not approved,” Tannenbaum says. 

On the opposite end are more laissez-faire leaders who believe “policing expenses is not a good use of my time, and employees shouldn’t have to worry about being out-of-pocket for work expenses.” 

The latter approach seems more reasonable to Tannenbaum, who says it’s worth it to have a strong culture—even if that means the occasional employee is spending too much money on coffee.

He’s been in the room long enough to be able to provide a scenario in which every expense on the list could be justified—yes, even the Beyoncé tickets, which could be feasibly used to lure a client. 

Additionally, the dominance of remote work—which Brex, a remote-first company, dines out on—has led to an avalanche of new expenses that would otherwise be absorbed by the office, he says.

That can run the gamut from purchasing technology for work to running up mailing or document-processing costs. The latter is something Tannenbaum has experienced thanks to his role as a named officer on Brex’s money transmission licenses.

“I’m on many licenses, and I have to get notaries and send stuff through mail and FedEx for state licenses, which I would’ve done in the office,” Tannenbaum says. “Or there would’ve been someone doing it for me. Now I’m paying for it myself.”

Ultimately, the Great Resignation (which became the Big Stay) has planted us in a veritable employee market right now, Tannenbaum says, adding that giving workers leeway to expense perhaps not-quite-business-related perks is a recruiting and retention tactic. “We’re trying to do things that are more employee-friendly. We’re going to give people the benefit of the doubt—that’s the prevailing ethos,” he says. 

That’s especially true with tech companies, which Tannenaum says tend to be transparency-focused and employee-friendly. “You’re less likely to find finance leaders who are stringent on rules; why spend time quibbling on $5 at Starbucks? Generally, it’s about culture and whether you want your employees to feel like they’re empowered or being watched.” 

“There are big benefits for white-collar CFOs to ignore small details,” he adds.

But a slightly-too-loose employee could risk losing their job or being put on notice for running up a tab—especially if a company is operating on thin margins. Expensing even a few dollars can seem small, but it can also be very emotional, and the transaction can become nasty between workers and leaders very quickly, Tannenbaum adds. 

“Gen Zers, young workers, maybe don’t understand. When in doubt, or if they haven’t developed a sense of right or wrong, they should ask their manager,” he says. “It’s just not a place I’d take a risk.”

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Jane Thier
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Success

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Success

Lauren Sánchez Bezos put $34 million behind reinventing what clothes are made of—and stirred a debate about Amazon
Environmentphilanthropy
Lauren Sánchez Bezos put $34 million behind reinventing what clothes are made of—and stirred a debate about Amazon
By Sydney LakeJuly 21, 2026
1 hour ago
Jamie Dimon says insecurity, not ego, is what destroys the careers of top CEOs
C-SuiteJamie Dimon
Jamie Dimon says insecurity, not ego, is what destroys the careers of top CEOs
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 21, 2026
2 hours ago
Two students stand next to each other and look at the papers they are holding.
AIEducation
Study finds AI boosted homework scores 18%—then tanked exam results 20%
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 21, 2026
4 hours ago
math
AIScience
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
4 hours ago
Welder on a navy boat
SuccessCareers
Jamie Dimon says six-figure shipyard jobs are the new ‘American Dream’—but candidates will need to endure hours of extreme heat, cold, and rain
By Preston ForeJuly 21, 2026
5 hours ago
Knicks star Jalen Brunson
SuccessPersonal Finance
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
By Emma BurleighJuly 21, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
Success
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
By Sydney LakeJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
3 days ago
The Treasury is walking a tightrope on U.S. debt by relying so much on short-term rates that are at the mercy of a suddenly very hawkish Fed
Economy
The Treasury is walking a tightrope on U.S. debt by relying so much on short-term rates that are at the mercy of a suddenly very hawkish Fed
By Jason MaJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
Jamie Dimon won't put more of his own money into the long end of the bond market right now—thanks to the $39 trillion national debt
Economy
Jamie Dimon won't put more of his own money into the long end of the bond market right now—thanks to the $39 trillion national debt
By Eleanor PringleJuly 21, 2026
10 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.