Bradford Factor Calculator
Score short-term absence from spells and days — or straight from a list of absences — with trigger points you can set to match your policy.
Trigger points (examples — set them to match your policy)
Bradford Factor
54
Informal chat
B = S × S × D. Many short absences score far higher than one long one: 10 one-day absences score 1,000, while one 10-day absence scores 10.
Team scores
| Name | Spells | Days | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | No action | ||||
| 125 | Informal chat | ||||
| 16 | No action |
Use the score fairly. The Bradford Factor is a prompt for a supportive conversation, never the only basis for action. Absence linked to a disability, pregnancy or maternity, or another protected characteristic should be handled separately — counting it can be discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Consider reasonable adjustments, record agreed exclusions, and follow your own written absence policy. The trigger points above are common examples, not legal thresholds.
Related free tools
All free toolsUK holiday pay calculator
Statutory holiday entitlement for regular, irregular-hours and part-year workers.
Open toolPTO accrual calculator
How much leave builds up each pay period, with carry-over caps and part-year starters.
Open toolPlanning poker
Estimate stories together: hidden votes, cards that flip at once and instant results.
Open toolFrequently asked questions
What is the Bradford Factor?+
A score that weights frequent short absences more heavily than occasional long ones. It's calculated as S × S × D, where S is the number of separate absences (spells) and D is the total days absent, usually over a rolling 52 weeks.
How do you calculate a Bradford Factor score?+
Square the number of spells and multiply by the total days. Three absences totalling six days score 3 × 3 × 6 = 54. One absence of six days scores just 6.
What are typical Bradford Factor trigger points?+
There's no legal standard. Many employers use points around 51, 201, 401 and 651 to prompt an informal chat and then formal review stages. Set the trigger points in the calculator to match your own written policy.
Is it fair to use the Bradford Factor?+
It can be, if it's used as a prompt for a conversation rather than an automatic sanction. Exclude or adjust for absences linked to disability, pregnancy or other protected characteristics, and follow your absence policy consistently.
Can absence be recorded automatically?+
Yes. In TeamTrackin, sickness and leave are requested and approved in one place, so absence records and reports are always up to date.
Absence records you can trust
TeamTrackin records sickness and leave with approvals, balances and reports for the whole team.
Start Free Trial