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.
Accounting firms are still managing to see increases in their fees and income per partner this year, despite the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest edition of the annual Rosenberg Survey.
Steven L. Skancke, Ph.D., is chief economic adviser at Keel Point and a former White House and Treasury Department staff member.
Jeff is responsible for leading Simply Business's U.S. insurance product function, with a focus on advancing the company's mission of closing the coverage gap for small businesses through innovation and a customer-centric approach.
With nearly two decades of leadership experience, Jeff has a proven track record of developing and scaling digital insurance solutions at industry-leading companies, including Liberty Mutual, Plymouth Rock Assurance and Lemonade.
Throughout his career, he has specialized in leveraging technology to simplify complex coverage decisions and deliver robust, data-driven insurance products. An entrepreneur at heart, Jeff co-founded Sagewell Financial, a fintech company designed to help retirees navigate complex financial landscapes. This firsthand experience as a business owner provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges faced by the customers Simply Business serves.
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:
