Top 10 most outrageous claims employees tried to make

HRM 11 Jan 2013

If you thought that the entertainment bill by your sales team is atrocious, wait till you read about some of the most out-of-the-world expenses employees across the globe have tried to claim.

Even in these days of economic uncertainty, up to one-fifth of submitted claims violate company policy, according to Robert Neveu, chief executive of software firm Certify.

Certify conducted a survey asking about employees’ brazen submissions in 2012, and some of these outrageous claims can range from smaller sins such as submitting receipts one year late, to the truly mindboggling ones that involve live animals.

“They might be crazy,” said Neveu, in a report by Bloomberg Businessweek. “But some are legit.”

10 craziest claims by employees

  1. Goat

Employees in an energy supply firm in Mexico decided that they were hungry.

  1. Body oil

This is for an employee’s body building competition, and how this was related to his/her work was not mentioned.

  1. Deer urine

An integral prerequisite for an agricultural products company employee’s successful hunting trip with a client.

  1. Baby giraffe

The young giraffe was brought to an office party for a restaurant/hospitality company. We are certain that the party had plenty of alcohol, too.

  1. Live baby octopuses

A Japanese visitor to a pharmaceutical company wanted sushi. Why they didn’t just bring him to a restaurant is beyond us.

  1. Dunk tank

The dunk tank was rented to boost employee morale at an auto parts supplier. They used it to dunk their boss, which actually makes it a pretty good idea.

  1. Pink flamingo lawn ornaments

These decorations were supposed to make the office look “warm and homely”

  1. Laser tattoo removal

Submitted by an IT industry worker who decided that tattoos did not fit his/her professional image and sought to “appear more professional to clients.” We think this is the most reasonable of the lot.

  1. $1,300 for Henry IV Cognac

One employee decided to sample one of the world’s most expensive liquors on the company dime. This is not at all surprising, to be honest.

  1. A trip for a job interview.

This is our favourite. Someone hated his company so much that he decided that they should pay the cost for seeking a new employer.

We certainly you had a good laugh reading this list. So, HR folks, share with us what are some of the most mind-blowing claims that you have ever received!



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