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.
Lisa Walsh is the senior vice president, investments, LJW Wealth Management of Raymond James.
For nearly 30 years, she has practiced a holistic approach to personalized planning that addresses the financial complexities inherent in the lives of high net worth individuals and families. She is based in Buffalo, New York.
Wendy Houser is the Chief Wholesale Officer for Markel Specialty, Chair of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Board of Governors, and past Chair of the IICF Southeast Division Board of Directors. Houser spent 10 years as a wholesale broker before joining Markel. She was promoted to Regional President in 2014, then served as Chief Territory Officer for the West. She is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves.
Matthew Leaney is the chief revenue officer at Silent Eight.
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:
