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.
Larry Harding, president of TMF Group's Consultancy Solutions practice, launched the practice in 2017. His earlier career roles include senior audit manager and M&A consultant at Ernst & Young; CFO at numerous high-tech companies; VP of international finance for CIENA Corporation; and founder and CEO of High Street Partners, where in 2013 he was awarded EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Maryland region. At CIENA, Larry was responsible for the HQ-based leadership of all finance, HR and legal requirements of more than 30 overseas subsidiaries. Larry has a BS in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a dual major in finance and accounting.
Matt Zokai, AIF, is a senior advisor of retirement services at 1st Global. He helps drive growth and retention by educating and assisting advisors with qualified plan opportunities and serves as a subject-matter expert to various teams within the company by providing technical expertise consistent with ERISA, DOL, regulatory and tax requirements for the proper design and administration of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans.
Andy Higginbotham is the senior vice president of strategic delivery in Freddie Mac's single-family business.
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:
