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.
Kevin C. Gillen, Ph.D., is an economist who holds positions as both a Senior Research Fellow with the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation and an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Drexel University. Dr. Gillen's research is concentrated in applied work in the analysis of real estate developments and operation of real estate markets, including their fiscal, economic and financial implications.
As the chief people officer at Firstup, Sabra Sciolaro leads the organization's strategic initiatives to attract, develop and retain top talent, while fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration and innovation. She has a deep passion for people and a commitment to creating exceptional employee experiences. She believes people are at the heart of any organization's success and are dedicated to creating an environment where employees feel valued, empowered and inspired to perform at their best.
Kari Mayfield is the head of diversity, equity & inclusion at Ping Identity
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:
