The craziest work-from-home expenses of 2020

Employees working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic claimed some outlandish expenses this year, including pricey exercise bikes, facelifts and private jets.

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.

CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
john_samuels.jpg

John Samuels is the founder and CEO of Wellworth, a national health care advisory firm based in New York.

With over two decades in senior health care leadership, he has expertise in health care operations, strategy and innovation. Previously, he held leadership roles at North Shore LIJ and Mount Sinai Beth Israel. He has been recognized for his community service, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was honored on the Forbes Next 1000 list in 2021.

Diane Bartoli SVP of EdAssist, Bright Horizons.

Cota-Germaine-Bill

Germaine Cota, CPA, is senior vice president of finance & accounting at BILL.

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:

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