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.
Chris Scappa is head of advanced client solutions and support for Paya.
As President of Ally Invest, Lule is responsible for Ally Invest Securities, Ally Invest Advisors, and API business lines. Prior to joining Ally Invest, Lule was the Managing Director of Investment Products & Digital Guidance at TD Ameritrade. Previously, Lule worked for leading investment firms such as Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, and Merrill Lynch as a product manager, product developer, and a financial advisor. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Smith College, an M.B.A from Columbia Business School, a CIMA designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute (formerly IMCA) and the 7, 66 and 24 securities licenses. While at business school Lule won both the coveted Toigo Foundation and Goldman Sachs Fellowships.
With remote work here to stay, employees are seeking out more safe and affordable places to live that don’t require a job change.
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:
