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.
Dayne joined Quantum Health as its new CEO and member of its Board of Directors in January 2025. As CEO, he drives the overall business strategy and execution for Quantum Health. He was most recently the founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of PlanSource, a leading technology company that automates and simplifies benefits programs for over 5 million employees, and its platform helps employers better administer their health benefits. A proven scaler of transformative companies, he focuses his impressive health benefits industry experience to drive growth and unlock new market value and operational scale.
Bonnie Harper is vice president of private wealth consulting at Raymond James. She leads a team of consultants supporting financial advisors and their high net worth clients and prospects.
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:
