What happened in my workplace is that the manager was forgot to forward an email that had the date and time the auditors were coming to the department when she was on sick-leave. The auditors arrived on the communicated day only to find the department unprepared, with no clue of their coming. The manager was called and confirmed she was told, but forgot to pass the message. She apologized vehemently. Her being on sick leave saved the department as the auditors were lenient and understood the situation. The department was given another date for the audit which went successfully.