To clarify, the question this is regarding Driver-employees or Driver-Volunteers bringing a pet not a client? At envida I would not allow an employee to bring a pet of any type unless it was a service animal. With a volunteer, I may give more grace, but likely I still would not allow it unless its a service animal. The risks when it comes to liability on the agency are not necessary, and as an agency recriminative it is our responsibility to minimize potential risks to not only our company but to clients and other employees.

I have not been faced with this request at envida, but I feel confident in how I would handle it. First, I would check to see if you have any preexisting policies, and if not use this as an opportunity to amend a current policy to include it. Then, inform the employee. Generally, a simple explanation that lets the employee know that clients may have allergies or other health concerns and it is our responsibility to make sure we give them the safest ride possible and that means we cannot allow. I would also let them know of real concerns from a legal standpoint about a “pets” behavior around other animals is not predictable, and a client could bring a service animal leading to potential conflict.

Always ask yourself these 3 questions:

Is the decision I am making good for
Our clients
Our agency
Our employees

Generally speaking, if the answer is not yes to all 3, there is a better solution to be found elsewhere.