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.
Kees Wesdorp, PhD, has been business group leader for diagnostic imaging at Philips since January 2017. He previously served as the executive vice president with the EU portfolio team at Bain Capital and has also held leadership positions at NXP Semiconductors.
Jan Kimpen is Philips' chief medical officer, a position he has held since January 2016. As the leader of the global clinical team, he works with his team in collaboration with Philips businesses, markets and enabling functions to advance clinical capabilities and customer growth opportunities.
Jamie B. Fowler is national managing partner of tax services at Grant Thornton LLP.
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:
