British workers are spending around £400m a year on personal calls using company mobile phones, according to research from Aurora Kendrick James (AJK).

Employers who mistakenly claw back VAT on personal calls could land themselves in hot water with HM Revenue and Customs. So says AJK, of Chatham Kent, which, you will be surprised to hear, is a telecoms expense management firm.

By taking minimal steps such as monitoring phone usage, and educating employees not to use their mobiles for personal stuff, companies can save as much as £80 a year, per employee, according to AJK.

Of course they'll also end up with staff who are disenfranchised and demoralised, not to mention paranoid. But that is a small price to pay.

Wannabe scrooges can download a best practice guide from Aurora Kendrick James. Us? We're ringing round our mates to see who's up for the pub - with our own phones, of course. ®

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