How this calculator works
The Bradford factor squares the number of separate absence spells and multiplies by the total days absent. Squaring makes frequent short absences score far higher than one long absence of the same length, on the view that repeated disruption costs more than a single absence. Scores are compared within one employer's policy bands, not across employers with different bands or working patterns.
Formula
Bradford factor B = S² × D, where S is the number of separate absence spells and D is the total days absent in the review period.
Worked example
Four separate spells totalling 12 days give B = 4² × 12 = 192. One 12-day spell gives B = 1² × 12 = 12, and eight two-day spells give B = 8² × 16 = 1,024.
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Frequently asked questions
Which absences count?
Use the definition in your absence policy. Many employers count unplanned absence and exclude vacation, statutory holidays, maternity and parental leave, and approved medical appointments. Keep the rule the same for everyone in the group you compare.
What score triggers action?
There is no universal threshold. Employers set their own bands, and a common approach pairs the score with a review conversation rather than an automatic penalty. Apply bands carefully: pregnancy-related and disability-related absence need separate treatment under human rights and accessibility law.
Why square the number of spells?
Squaring gives the score its emphasis on frequency. Three separate one-day absences (B = 9) outrank a single three-day absence (B = 3), which reflects the extra planning and cover each return to work needs.