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.
Peter Doumas is the vice president of national accounts at Progyny.
Jason Delserro is the chief talent acquisition officer at ADP.
Joanne Cleaver, president of content strategy firm Wilson-Taylor Associates Inc., designed and manages the Accounting MOVE Project, an annual research and advocacy effort produced by the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, The Accounting MOVE project is now owned and managed by Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, who owns marketing and DEI consulting firm, bbr companies. The Accounting MOVE Project is supported by participating firms, including sponsors Moss Adams and SAPRO, in partnership with the Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance.
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:
