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.
Jon joined Global X in 2017 as CIO. He helps to shape the firm’s market outlook, leads the construction of model portfolios, crafts the firm’s investment strategy, and contributes to the development of ETF products.
Ellen Rose, a Senior Director at Treliant, is a seasoned financial services professional with executive experience in all facets of commercial and residential mortgage banking. Ellen has over 30 years of industry experience in directing originations, secondary marketing, servicing, support and vendor activities.
Steve Bartlett is a member of the Senior Advisory Board at Treliant, a consulting firm. He has over 30 years of experience in financial services, business strategy, corporate governance, ethics and compliance, and public policy at the highest levels of the private sector and government. His most notable positions include President and CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C., Mayor of Dallas and member of the U.S. House of Representatives and House Banking Committee.
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:
