The craziest work-from-home expenses of 2020

Employees working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic claimed some outlandish expenses this year, including pricey exercise bikes, facelifts and private jets.

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.

CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Paul Davis
March 27, 2020 12:19 PM

Regulators are allowing banks that implemented the loan-loss standard to forestall any capital hits until 2022.

1 Min Read
Stress.MentalHealth.4point0.8.26.19.png
Christin Kuretich
March 27, 2020 11:36 AM

It’s estimated that workplace stress now costs employers $500 billion annually in the form of decreased performance at work or absenteeism.

3 Min Read

Christin Kuretich joined Trustmark in 2009. As senior director of product and innovation for Trustmark's accident and critical illness insurance products, she is responsible for researching marketplace trends and assessing the voice of the customer in order to create new product solutions for customers. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

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:

craziest-work-from-home-expenses-infographic.png

Advertisement