You are assuming the employer - at least the first level manager, but more likely all the way up - isn't aware of this, and approves. Allowing expenses as pay

You are assuming the employer - at least the first level manager, but more likely all the way up - isn't aware of this, and approves. Allowing expenses as pay is very common, widely practiced and normal. From buying books to hotel room stays to letting family travel along for long trips (and providing entertainment for them). Seems to happen all the time. Hell, isn't the white house an example of it ? (I would also like to point out that buying meat for a snake might simply be a mistake. I certainly would have tried feeding a python something dead first, wtf)