Irish Calculators
Work & pay

Bradford Factor Absence Score Calculator

Enter the number of absence spells and their total days to calculate the score. The number does not account for protected leave or individual circumstances and is not a disciplinary recommendation.

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Your numbers

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How the calculation works

The Bradford Factor is a numerical summary of absence frequency and duration. Because the number of separate spells is squared, frequent short absences can produce a larger score than the same total days grouped into fewer spells.

Bradford Factor = number of absence spells² × total absence days.

  1. Define the observation period

    Choose the period and absence categories before collecting the two totals. Changing what counts as a spell or a day changes the meaning of the comparison.

  2. Square the spell count

    Multiply the number of spells by itself. This introduces the deliberate frequency weighting rather than treating every absence day equally.

  3. Multiply by total days

    Multiply that squared count by the included absence days. The resulting score is dimensionless and is not a percentage of scheduled working time.

Worked example: Three spells

Sample inputs demonstrate the method. They are not a forecast or product offer.

The first example records three spells totalling six days. Squaring three gives nine, and multiplying nine by six gives a Bradford Factor of 54. The six days are multiplied once; they are not squared alongside the spell count.

Separate absence spells
3
Total absence days
6

Expected result

Bradford Factor
54
Worked example: One spell

Sample inputs demonstrate the method. They are not a forecast or product offer.

Separate absence spells
1
Total absence days
6

Expected result

Bradford Factor
6

Understanding your result

A higher score can reflect more spells, more days or both. To understand a change, inspect the underlying records instead of attributing it only to the total time lost.

The score contains no explanation of the absence. It does not evaluate disability, protected leave or personal circumstances, and supplies no disciplinary threshold or recommendation.

Questions you might have

What does this bradford factor calculator include?

Calculate the Bradford Factor from absence spells and days within the same review period.

Which assumptions should I check?

Use a consistent policy period and documented definition of a spell. The score alone does not justify disciplinary action and does not account for disability, protected leave or individual circumstances.

Choosing the right inputs

Separate absence spells
Enter a whole number of distinct absence spells within one defined review period. A spell is an episode, not automatically one day.
Total absence days
Enter the total days belonging to those spells under the same recording policy. Zero spells and positive days, or positive spells and zero days, are inconsistent and are rejected.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not enter total days as both the spell count and the duration unless each included day truly was a separate episode.
  • Scores calculated using different review periods or inclusion policies are not directly comparable.

Assumptions to check

  • Use a consistent policy period and documented definition of a spell. The score alone does not justify disciplinary action and does not account for disability, protected leave or individual circumstances.

Sources and method

Read our calculation and testing approach.