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.
Biju Nair is general manager and vice president of payments for Boulevard.
Mike Reeves is VP, Life Solutions, for Hannover Re Group, He has been with the company since 2007. Mike is responsible for new business development, client relationship management and implementing customized solutions for hr | ReFlex, Hannover Re’s automated underwriting system. His main focus with Hannover Re has been in the area of automated and accelerated underwriting, including finding and vetting new data sources to support automated and accelerated underwriting. Mike’s previous speaking engagements include various topics on innovations in underwriting solutions specific to how to successfully implement these tools into life insurers’ new business processes. He has 20+ years of combined experience in life and health insurance and reinsurance.
Almost half of employees have filed a complaint to HR during the pandemic due to employee disputes and other remote work issues.
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:
