Bradford Factor calculator
A free Bradford Factor calculator. Enter how many separate spells of absence one employee had and the total days they were absent to get their Bradford Factor score.
One employee
A spell is one unbroken absence, however long. Most employers count over a rolling 52 weeks.
Result
Bradford Factor
144
4 x 4 x 9
- Same days as one single absence
- 9
Nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.
What the Bradford Factor calculator works out
The Bradford Factor is a score for one person's absence that weights frequent short absences more heavily than a single long one. It multiplies the number of spells by itself, then by the total days absent.
How it is calculated
Count spells and days
S = the number of separate spells of absence. D = the total days absent across all of them.
Apply the formula
Bradford Factor = S x S x D.
Worked example
Four spells adding up to 9 days score 4 x 4 x 9 = 144. The same 9 days taken as one absence score 1 x 1 x 9 = 9.
Record the absences the score is built from
Wrkbase leave records each sick leave request with its dates and approval, and attendance shows absent days per employee. It does not calculate a Bradford Factor: use this page for that.
Good to know before you rely on it
What Bradford Factor score is too high?
There is no official threshold. Each employer that uses the score sets its own trigger points in its absence policy, so check your own policy rather than a number from elsewhere.
Why does it punish short absences more?
Because the spells are squared. The idea behind the score is that many short, unplanned absences are harder to cover than one longer one of the same total length.
Is the Bradford Factor fair to everyone?
Used on its own, it can be unfair to people whose absences relate to a disability or a long-term health condition. Treat the Bradford Factor calculator as a prompt for a conversation, not a decision, and take advice on your legal duties.
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