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.
Jill Spielberger is U.S. Engagement Practice Leader at Buck. She has more than 35 years of communications experience, helping organizations to develop and implement comprehensive, multi-channel change, communication, and marketing programs. Buck, a Gallagher company, is an integrated HR and benefits consulting, technology, and administration services firm.
William Laurent is a renowned independent consultant in data, governance and IT strategy. You can reach him at william@williamlaurent.com.
Kevin Mitchell has been the President of TypTap Insurance Company since October 2019. He has served as a Senior Vice President of HCI, managing HCI's investor relations and reinsurance placement and sales & marketing. Before joining HCI, Mr. Mitchell was an Area Director and Producer for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Prior to being with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. he was a Commercial Lines Producer with Oswald Companies. Mr. Mitchell is a Bowling Green State University graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and a minor in Marketing.
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:
