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.
Chris Skipworth is the CEO of Passpack, a zero-knowledge password management platform serving businesses worldwide. With 25 years of technology experience in software, hardware, and semiconductor engineering, he has brought innovative solutions to markets across North America, Asia, and Europe. Since leading Passpack in 2013, Chris has secured company financing, expanded into new markets, and positioned Passpack as a leading password management solution for SMBs.
Michael Messina is a director and registered representative of Ryan Tax Capital. He works with sponsors and investors to bring together partnerships that are based on the design of financial models reflecting the needs of all parties to a transaction. Identifying the right fit for each project and working with a multi-disciplinary team of advisors and counsel to effectuate partnerships is the focus of Michael's efforts at Ryan Tax Capital. He is also a director of income tax at Ryan LLC's New York office.
Lauren Hoffman is an associate at Brooks Pierce who advises and represents employers in both employment law and commercial litigation matters. She assists clients with drafting workplace handbooks, policies, and employment agreements, and provides practical guidance on sensitive workplace issues including harassment, discrimination, and workplace violence.
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:
