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.
Rebecca Niehus is a Strategic Analytics Advisor at Truven by Merative. She has over 15 years of experience working with healthcare data in data management, product management, and analytics. She has worked extensively with employers to identify population health and savings opportunities, measure outcomes, and recommend future strategy.
Daniel Zahavi is CEO of Arito. He is a second-time founder and product builder with a PhD in information theory and deep expertise in data modeling and solving complex data problems. He previously founded a company focused on data infrastructure and analytics, which was successfully exited; its technology is now deployed widely across the United States. Today, he focuses on building AI-powered products and improving AI efficiency, translating cutting-edge models into reliable, scalable systems that automate workflows and deliver real business outcomes, drawing on years of hands-on experience defining, shipping and iterating products end-to-end.
Brian Aagaard, Founder of Cooperhawk Business Brokers, is a seasoned professional with decades of experience across both corporate and privately held companies. After a long and successful career in the corporate and private sector world and having spent the last 10 years with one of Minnesota's leading business brokerages, Brian launched Cooperhawk to bring a personal, relationship-driven approach to business brokerage — one that prioritizes integrity, transparency, and the success of Main Street business owners. While its foundation is rooted in Main Street businesses, Cooperhawk also has the expertise to guide more complex transactions, reflecting a forward-looking vision for sustainable growth in the evolving business marketplace.
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:
