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British workers are claiming more expenses than ever according to new research. Yet, unlike the nation’s politicians, the British public is far more conscientious.

The current economic climate, it seems, is pushing up expenses claims from company personnel keen to off-set rising costs of doing business and daily working tasks.

Perhaps in more secure financial times, personal costs wouldn’t have been at the forefront of workers’ minds. However, economic uncertainty has highlighted the need for debt solutions and more conservative spending habits are the inevitable result. More frequent and higher expense claims are one aspect of this.

A string of politicians have already succumbed to the pressure and resigned as the expenses scandal rages on, but it seems the general working public is far more honest.

MPs have spent the past few weeks facing allegations of milking the system, and many extraordinary claims have surfaced to the disgust of the public at large.

However, the behaviour of the general public does not reflect that of MPs according to a poll conducted by Premier Inn on how British workers’ expenses claims have changed over the past year.

The survey showed that one in four Brits is claiming, on average, an extra £576 a year, although just two in 10 will “sneak” through personal items as part of a claim. Business claims are predicted to go up by £12.5bn this year, as the trend continues of people keeping a closer eye on their personal finances.

Thirty per cent of respondents revealed that they are more concerned now about using personal cash to pay out for expenses as they try to keep their own finances within tighter limits.

The poll reports that the most commonly claimed expense was for travel and accommodation, with an average of almost £1,000 per year requested in remuneration. Some 37 per cent of workers said that the recession means more travel is required in order to get the work or win business contracts.

Food and drink was the second highest claim, reaching almost £38 per month, followed by phone bills (at £24 per month) and providing entertainment for clients (at £21 per month).