Bradford Factor Calculator

What is the Bradford Factor?

The Bradford Factor is a formula used to calculate the impact of employee absence. It gives more weight to frequent short-term absences compared to longer but less frequent ones. This allows employers to monitor and address patterns of absenteeism that can significantly affect productivity.

Bradford Factor Formula

The Bradford Factor is calculated using the following formula:

$\text{Bradford Factor}=S^2\times D$

Where:

• $S$ = Total number of separate absences in a given period
• $D$ = Total number of days absent during the same period

Why Use the Bradford Factor?

The Bradford Factor is especially useful for:

• Identifying patterns of frequent short-term absences
• Addressing attendance issues fairly and consistently
• Supporting HR decisions like warnings, appraisals, or interventions
• Improving workforce management and planning

Bradford Factor Score Guidelines

While every organization may have its own thresholds, here is a general guideline:

Example Calculation

Let’s say an employee has been absent 4 times over the past year and was absent for a total of 12 days.

Using the Bradford Formula:

$\text{Bradford Factor}=4^2\times 12=16\times 12=192$

In this case, the Bradford Factor is 192, which indicates a high level of absenteeism and may require management attention.