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.
Sammy is the founder and CEO of YuLife, a tech-driven insurance company on a mission to inspire life by providing group insurance, wellbeing, and rewards in one simple app. He originally built Policy Portfolio plc, the first market maker in traded endowments and led the flotation of the company on the full London Stock Exchange. He then went on to become the founding CEO of PruProtect (now VitalityLife), which was the first life insurance company in the UK to reward healthy living. Sammy holds a degree in computer science from Imperial College London.
A 37-year insurance industry veteran and a leader in the cyber insurance field, Keith Savino is the National Cyber Practice Leader with PCF Insurance Services, as well as a Principal and Managing Partner with Broadfield Insurance. Keith is an active member with various organizations, including a member of the Leaders Council for the Association of User Group Information Exchange (AUGIE), past President for the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, former Board of Director for ACORD, former Chair for NetVU, Advisory Board member for Certificial, former Advisory Board for IVANs, plus many other organizations.
Peter McMurtrie is a partner of the insurance practice for West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting firm. Peter has C-suite experience across a variety of insurance disciplines including sales, marketing, claims, customer interactions, and subsidiary oversight—including extensive interaction with and presentations to boards of directors. His three decades of experience covers all types of insurance—from core product lines of personal and commercial Insurance to ancillary lines like accident and health, pet, travel, and medical stop loss products. Peter joined West Monroe from Nationwide Insurance, where he was president of Property & Casualty Commercial Insurance.
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:
