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.
Co-Founder & CEO
Glia
As small businesses in different parts of the country reopen in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, they are beginning to increase the number of hours worked by their employees, according to payroll giant Paychex, although spikes in the virus are threatening to set back those gains.
Scott has been with Allianz for more than 24 years previously holding positions in Claims (forensic engineer and practice group leader), in Underwriting (Director of Catastrophe Management), in the Risk Office responsible for Corporate Catastrophe Management & Operational Risk, and in Risk Services. In these roles, Scott has sponsored and promoted the concept of using expertise and knowledge based insights to help improve the foundation and information on which organizations base analysis and financial decisions.
Before Allianz, Scott practiced as an environmental engineer at a national environmental engineering company for more than 6 years focused on design and implementation of pollution cleanup remedies for a variety of industrial clients.
He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering and a Master’s of Engineering degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. Mr. Steinmetz is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in the State of California.
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:
