Free tool
Bradford Factor calculator
The Bradford Factor scores absence patterns as S² × D — spells squared, times days. It weights frequent short absences far more heavily than one long one. Enter your numbers below.
Number of separate occasions absent in the rolling period (usually the last 52 weeks).
Total working days lost across all those spells.
Enter spells and days to calculate the score.
The bands shown reflect common UK practice, not law — thresholds are your policy choice. The Bradford Factor is a conversation trigger, not a verdict: apply it consistently, and take advice before acting on scores that include disability- or pregnancy-related absence.
Want the score calculated continuously, for every employee, without the spreadsheet? TeamZap tracks Bradford Factor automatically — or read the full guide with worked examples.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Bradford Factor calculated?
B = S² × D, where S is the number of separate absence spells in a rolling period (usually 52 weeks) and D is the total days absent. Ten single days scores 1,000; one ten-day spell scores just 10.
What is a good Bradford Factor score?
Lower is better. Common practice treats under 50 as no concern, 51–200 as worth an informal chat, and higher bands as review triggers — but thresholds are policy choices, not law.
Is the Bradford Factor a legal requirement in the UK?
No — it is a widely used management metric, not legislation. If you use it, apply it consistently and treat disability- and pregnancy-related absences separately and carefully.
Absence tracked fairly, automatically
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