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.
Lesli Gooch is the CEO for the Manufactured Housing Institute. MHI is the national trade organization representing all segments of the factory-built housing industry.
Michael Mansard is principal director of subscription strategy for Zuora.
Amanda Kerley is the Head of HR Strategy and Culture at Dynasty Financial Partners. She has over 15 years of experience in the wealth management industry, starting her career at US Trust/Bank of America before becoming a founding member of Dynasty Financial Partners. Throughout her tenure at Dynasty, she has designed multiple Human Resource programs, helped build the community pillar as well as the internal RIA, and curated various client experiences.
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:
