Bradford Factor Calculator
Calculate how employee absence patterns impact your business operations
About the Bradford Factor
The Bradford Factor is a formula used in human resource management to measure the impact of employee absences on an organization. It’s calculated using the formula:
Where:
- S = Number of separate absence instances/spells over a set period
- D = Total number of days absent over the same period
- B = Bradford Factor score
The formula is designed on the principle that short, frequent, unplanned absences are more disruptive to organizations than longer, less frequent absences.
The Bradford Factor for Absence Management
The Bradford Factor is a powerful HR metric designed to quantify the disruptive impact of employee absences on organizational operations. Developed at the Bradford University School of Management, this formula gives greater weight to frequent, short-term absences which typically cause more workplace disruption than occasional longer absences.
The formula calculates a score based on the pattern and duration of employee absences over a set period (usually 52 weeks). Higher scores indicate potentially more problematic absence patterns that may require management intervention according to your organization’s absence policy.
Many organizations establish threshold values for Bradford scores to trigger different levels of absence management procedures, from informal discussions to formal disciplinary processes. This calculator helps you determine where your employees stand within your absence management framework.
How to Calculate Your Bradford Factor Score
Step 1
Enter the total number of separate absence instances (also called “spells” or “occurrences”) the employee has had during the measurement period. Each time an employee returns to work after an absence counts as one instance, regardless of duration.
Step 2
Input the total number of days the employee was absent across all instances during the same measurement period. Include all working days missed, excluding authorized holidays or planned leave.
Step 3
Review the calculated Bradford Factor score displayed in the results section. The formula squares the number of absence instances and multiplies by the total days absent (S² × D = B).
Step 4
Interpret your score using the provided reference table. Compare the result against your organization’s established thresholds to determine if any absence management actions are recommended.