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.
Amber Setter is the chief enlightenment officer for Conscious Public Accountants, whose mission is to guide accountants back to their wholeness. She is a national expert on building coaching cultures within the accounting profession. Her professional experience includes serving as an internal and external coach, facilitating and coaching within leadership development experiences, and building a nationally recognized learning and development function. She holds a Masters in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego and a Bachelors in Business Administration, Accounting from San Jose State University. She is a graduate of Accomplishment Coaching — an ICF accredited Coaches Training Program — and also completed their Advanced Leadership Program as a Mentor Coach. She is an inactive CPA and an ICF Professional Certified Coach, and was recognized by CalCPA as a Woman to Watch in the Experienced Leader Category.
Erik Carlson is chief financial officer and head of strategy at Notified, a technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals. He brings over 10 years of M&A, strategic finance and business transformation experience across private equity portfolio companies in technology, media, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Prior to Notified, he was senior vice president of M&A integration at Intrado and director of M&A and strategy advisory at PwC.
Jeff Micklos is the executive director of the Health Care Transformation Task Force.
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:
