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.
Kirsten Vosen serves as Deloitte U.S. audit and assurance private leader, focused on strategic growth in the private segment. In addition, she serves as the partner in charge of private company matters in the National Office Audit & Assurance Services group at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where she leads the consultation and rollout of the firm's private audit methodology. Reach her on LinkedIn at Kirsten Vosen.
Sirmara Campbell is Chief Human Resources Officer at LaSalle Network, a national staffing, recruiting and culture firm.
Scott Weintraub serves as Internal Audit Manager for Mortgage Quality Management and Research with nearly 20 years of experience in the mortgage origination and servicing industries, focusing on legal & regulatory compliance, Internal Audit management and organizational risk management.
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:
