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.
Taylor C. Nelms is vice president of research and insights at the Financial Health Network.
Mike DePrisco is president and CEO of the Institute of Management Accountants. Since joining the IMA in April 2023, DePrisco has led the development and implementation of a new vision and strategy designed to broaden the organization's relevance and reach, enhance member experiences, and strengthen IMA's role as a catalyst for professional growth and leadership. Prior to the IMA, DePrisco spent a decade at the Project Management Institute where he served as chief operating officer and interim president and CEO. DePrisco serves on the AAA Foundation Board and is co-chair of the Future Accountant Stakeholder Organization. He is also a member of the CEO Update executive roundtable program, advocating for the future of accounting and management professions. His leadership has been recognized through inclusion on Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and NJBIZ's Power 50 in Accounting lists.
Emily McGinn is the general manager of the MGA business unit at Vertafore. McGinn is a seasoned business and technology leader and has driven growth and transformation across finance, operations and digital initiatives. Previously, McGinn held senior roles at Windstream, Lumen Technologies and Zayo Group, where she led large teams, improved efficiency and fostered innovation.
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:
