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.
Carlos Kazuo Missao is head of innovation, Americas, at GFT.
Maayan is the founder of Hello Heart, a clinically-based digital program that empowers people to understand and improve their heart health - the #1 cost factor for employers and #1 cause of death. Under her leadership, the company has grown to having 100+ employees, a client list of 40+ Fortune 500 companies including Delta Airlines and CVS, coverage of more than 1.5 million members, and total funds raised at $138 million dollars.
The Power of Two duo Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila are senior benefits advisers. Their award-winning work & innovations with their Spanish Language Division has been nationally recognized. Reach them at andrewm@arrowbenefitsgroup.com - 707-992-3789 & rosarioa@arrowbenefitsgroup.com - 707-992-3795 & visit www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com.
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:
