Most expense disputes come from misunderstanding the policy, not from breaking it. Reading it once, carefully, removes a surprising amount of friction and second-guessing from every trip that follows.
Look for the parts that shape daily decisions: booking rules, spending limits, what needs a receipt, and how reimbursement timing works. Knowing these in advance lets you make confident choices in the moment instead of guessing and hoping finance agrees later.
When something is genuinely ambiguous, ask before the trip, not after. A two-line email up front is far cheaper than a rejected report and a week of back and forth.