Business needs to be ever so careful about who they work with these days. Many companies are hyper-vigilant about the integrity of their client rosters but recent events highlight the rapid abandonment of clients that skirt the law, do not carry the same values or attract the wrong kind of publicity. It was reported that PwC was moving to resign its ultra-fast fashion retailer Boohoo account due to the company’s alleged abuse of employment laws, lack of governance oversight and murky executive compensation. Other large accounting firms have also resigned accounts where clients step too close to the edge. In the Financial Times article cited above, a top lawyer who reviewed the situation commented that despite Boohoo’s not profiting from the low wages paid to workers and lack of virus protection at warehouses, the retailer knew about them and did not act quickly enough to address the problems.

These actions underscore how businesses need to do their due diligence not only before engaging a client but during the tenure of the relationship as well. Particularly when your clients are these newer online brands like Boohoo who get their start on social media and appeal to young Millennials. Boohoo is a retailer that essentially sells disposable fashion (wear one, discard tomorrow) to a young crowd. There is less scrutiny about their business practices and the management of the company keeps a low profile.

When working with a client, business must consistently look beyond their financial records to inspect the “softer” metrics such as inadequate working conditions, environmental neglect, supply chain irregularities, diversity and inclusion practices, executive misbehavior, gender inequity and so forth. It is not enough to conduct forensic audits of potential clients but vet what appears beyond the bottom line.

Keeping the right clients require full time independence and scrutiny. If a client does change its ways, that’s a big help and may be worth a second chance if they can keep to their commitment.