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.
Chris Perry is president of Global Sales, Marketing and Client Solutions at Broadridge Financial Solutions.
Steve Coffman has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate benefits and insurance. During the last 17 years, he has managed disability and leave teams before serving as Director of Client Solutions for a Top 5 carrier. Steve’s current position at Guardian is Senior Life & Disability Practice Leader. In this role, he utilizes his extensive disability experience to assist key clients and producers in better understanding claim best practices and possible solutions that create value for companies and their employees.
David Healy is senior vice president, group benefits, Sun Life U.S.
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:
