Employees working from home during the coronavirus pandemic claimed some outlandish expenses this year, including pricey exercise bikes, facelifts and private jets.
Emburse, an expense management software company, released a compilation Wednesday of some of the craziest expenses it has seen claimed this year, some of which were actually approved. That included $1,895, which was approved as a contribution for an employee's Peloton Bike under the explanation of “for health and wellness.” On the other hand, a $7,600 expense claim for a facelift was submitted under the category of “repairs and maintenance” but was rejected, despite the pressing need to look one’s best during a Zoom meeting.
Eileen Iles is a partner at Crowe, a consulting, technology and public accounting company.
William J. Rossi is a partner at Koss Olinger where he began his financial services career in 1997. His areas of expertise are investment management, estate planning, and creating income distribution strategies during retirement.
Brian Nelson Ford currently serves as the financial well-being executive for SunTrust Banks. Brian is an accomplished and well-respected author, speaker and financial expert. In addition to The 8 Pillars of Financial Greatness, he has authored an award-winning children’s book titled Marshmallows and Bikes – Teaching Children (and Adults) Personal Finance. Brian received bachelor’s degrees in business management and marriage, family and human development. He also received a master’s degree in personal finance. Brian has delivered recent keynote addresses to a number of global Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, Havertys, 1-800 Contacts and Delta. In addition, Brian has been widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on the design, implementation and measurement of workplace financial wellness programs.
Some expenses weren’t for working from home, but more about getting out of the house safely. An expense claim for a private jet charter costing over $20,000 was submitted and approved under the explanation of “required to limit COVID exposure for international shoots.” Another travel-related expense claim was $2,500 for a helicopter ride, which was not approved.
The $79 expense claim for a dog crate could perhaps be used for travel at some point when that's safer, but in these times it was more plausibly to provide "crate training [for] a new COVID puppy to not run into Zoom meetings."
Below is an infographic produced by Emburse showing this and several other head-scratching claims:
