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.
Ann Wyatt is vice president of program management & engagement at HealthFitness where she oversees a national account management team. Her role includes strategy development and driving engagement for new and existing health management and corporate fitness programs, employee recruiting and training, program quality assurance and operations management.
As CEO, Naveen guides Center's strategic direction, partnerships, and product innovation, leading the company's growing 40-person team. Before co-founding Center, Naveen worked in product development and business development at Concur and attended the University of San Diego.
Alan Grad is chairman and CEO of American Business, which works closely with CPAs to help them deepen their value as trusted advisors by deciphering complex life insurance issues as they relate to potential client needs. He writes extensively on subjects relating to coordinating life insurance strategies within estate and business structures for high-net-worth individuals and affluent families. Email him at agrad@americanbusiness.com.
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:
