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.
Pieter Danhieux is chief executive officer at Secure Code Warrior.
Matthew McKelvey is president of the McKelvey Group with over 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, government contracting, business valuations, process optimization and training. Matt is well known for his expertise in working with organizations as they seek to enter or grow their footprint in the Federal Government marketplace. In addition to direct client consulting in price and proposal strategies, compliance, and accounting, Matt speaks regularly and teaches courses to the Government contracting community. The subject matter of the speaking engagements and training include price/cost proposal strategies, DCAA audit preparation, compliant accounting systems, indirect cost structures, incurred cost submissions and negotiating with the federal government. The McKelvey Group is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy-recognized continuing professional education program sponsor providing CPE credits in accordance with nationally recognized standards. Matt holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a BS in Finance. He is a Six Sigma Certified Black Belt, a member of the National Contract Management Association and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals, and is an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers. For more information, visit www.themckelveygroup.com.
Rick Metsger is a member and former chairman of the National Credit Union Administration board.
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:
