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.
Todd Inskeep is an RSA Conference Advisory Board member and principal at Booz Allen Hamilton. He has over 30 years of security leadership experience. He focuses on applying leading-edge technologies to solving business problems, building solutions that bridge technology and business. His broad experience includes six months as CISO for a client company, leading information/cyber security program assessments at regional and global companies including oil & gas, hi-tech & global manufacturing, and financial services. Prior experience includes both technology and business leadership including multi-channel consumer banking security & fraud protection, security and identity architectures, and operations. Todd started his career at NSA, working on radio and computer security systems, and holds both a BSEE and an MS in strategic intelligence.
David Wagner has more than 25 years of experience in the IT security industry. He serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Zix, a company specializing in email security, and previously held leadership roles at Entrust for 20 years.
Steven I. Zeisel is the executive vice president and general counsel of the Consumer Bankers Association.
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:
