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.
Nic Beique is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Helcim, a payments company that delivers an easier, smarter, and more affordable payment experience with a human touch.
He is a technical founder with over fifteen years of payments experience and a deep passion for team culture, marketing, and product. His track record includes developing payment platforms for both SMBs and Fortune 500 companies.
He has been recognized for his contributions to the payment industry and tech economy in Canada as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Technology overall.
The research reveals fraud prevention and low-friction experiences are top priorities for banks, and they recognize the need to balance both across multiple channels and transaction types.
Driven by his early encounters with remote work challenges, Boston-based CEO Sean Nolan co-founded Blink. This all-in-one "super-app" empowers frontline workers with the digital tools, connections, and resources they need on their personal phones. Blink bridges the gap between management and millions of individuals across industries, from bus drivers to healthcare workers, fostering engagement, belonging, and a 26% reduction in staff turnover. With over 300 clients, including Stagecoach and Domino's, and used seven times daily by 300,000+ workers, Blink is revolutionizing the frontline experience, one tap at a time.
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:
