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.
Ron Schneider is director, corporate governance services for Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN). He is responsible for providing thought leadership on emerging corporate governance, proxy, sustainability and other disclosure issues. During his career, he has managed more than 1,600 proxy solicitations, 200 tender or exchange offers, and 30 proxy contests, with his proxy fight clients succeeding in over 70% of such situations. His prior experience includes three years at investor relations agency The Financial Relations Board, three years at AST Phoenix Advisors, and nine years at BNY Mellon. Earlier in his career, he held increasingly senior positions at major proxy solicitation firms Morrow & Co., D.F. King, and Georgeson & Co., where he served on its first board of directors.
Jason brings over 20 years of health care industry experience, with a track record of building successful organizations and delivering innovation. Prior to Sidecar Health, Jason had various executive roles at Centene Corporation, which covers 25 million Americans. Jason graduated from Washington University Olin School of Business with concentrations in Finance, Accounting, and German. He enjoys travel with his family and is working to lower his golf handicap and improve his offshore fishing knowledge.
Faheem Shakeel, Damco Solutions' VP for Insurance, is a veteran of insurance technology strategy. He has been instrumental in developing proprietary, homegrown products that cater to diverse customer needs. Shakeel has played a pivotal role in leveraging AI to build advanced solutions that enhance process automation, streamline workflows, and optimize operations in the complex and ever-evolving insurance landscape. His strategic vision and technological acumen continue to drive innovation, enabling insurers to stay ahead in a competitive market.
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:
