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.
Andrew Hastings is National Philanthropic Trust’s chief development officer and has 25 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit marketplace. He is responsible for NPT’s advanced gift planning and major gifts, business development and institutional relationships.
Michael Etzel is a partner in The Bridgespan Group’s Boston office. Since joining Bridgespan in 2006, Michael has focused on effectiveness across the full spectrum of financing for social impact.
Mariah Collins is a manager in The Bridgespan Group’s Boston office. Since joining in 2012, she has worked on a range of cases, primarily focused on impact investing, measurement and evaluation, and public health. Mariah co-leads Bridgespan’s Measurement and Evaluation area of expertise.
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:
