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.
Catherine Dahl is the CEO of Beanworks, an accounts payable automation platform.
Kevin Kelly is a Security Expert with the Fraud Prevention Division of Kaspersky Lab.� Utilizing Kaspersky Lab’s cutting-edge research into mobile security threats and Kevin’s experience of more than two decades in banking, he helps organizations fit new layers of security into existing framework to maximize ROI while taking advantage of new technology changes.�Prior to Kaspersky Lab, Kevin worked for several global banks as well as other respected vendors in the Banking IT Security market.� He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Buffalo and currently resides in New Jersey.
As president and chief growth officer, Mike Lisa oversees account management, sales, marketing and business development for Corporate Synergies, a national benefits practice leader. He is a 25-year employee benefits and insurance industry veteran with expertise in assembling best-in-class teams, maximizing operational results and enhancing the client’s overall experience.
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:
