Bradford Factor Calculator

The Bradford Factor is a commonly used way to measure employee absence patterns. It focuses less on how long someone’s been off, and more on how often.

The magic formula is:

Bradford Score = (Number of Absence Spells)² × Total Days Absent

So if you’ve had 3 separate absences totalling 9 days, your score is 81.

Funny you ask. Yes, Shiftie has an absence module which allows you to track absences, both paid and unpaid. The Bradford Factor is automatically kept up to date on the employee's profile, so you can keep track.

Most companies stick to a rolling 52-week period, basically, only recent instances. 

No. The Bradford Factor is not required by law, but it is widely used in absence management strategies.

Definitely not. Always use it alongside your absence policy, good judgement, and a conversation.

Maternity, paternity, disability-related stuff, any booked and paid leave - that doesn’t count.

Only unplanned stuff like sick days.

There’s no universal standard, but a lower score generally suggests better attendance and fewer disruptive absence patterns. Some broad guidelines used by HR professionals are:

0–50 – low/acceptable

51–200 – moderate

201–500 – high (may trigger review)

500+ – very high (often requires action)

The Bradford Factor highlights attendance patterns that could disrupt productivity, helping HR spot employees with frequent, unplanned absences so they can support them or investigate further.