Bradford factor calculator
Work out a Bradford factor score from the number of separate absences and the total days off.
The Bradford factor is a formula some employers use. It is not set in law.
Result
3 separate absences adding up to 10 days gives a Bradford factor of 90.
Bradford factor score
The same 10 days taken as one absence would score 10.
Show the workings
| Step | Sum | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford factor | 3 × 3 spells × 10 days | 90 points |
What this leaves out or assumes
- The Bradford factor is a formula some employers use. It is not set in law, and each employer decides what, if anything, a score means.
- Employers choose the period it covers, such as the last 52 weeks.
Where the figures come from
This sum uses only the numbers you entered.
The formula
The score is the number of separate absences, squared, multiplied by the total days absent: S × S × D. Because the number of absences is squared, many short absences score far higher than one long one.
| Separate absences | Total days | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | 10 | 40 |
| 5 | 10 | 250 |
| 10 | 10 | 1,000 |
How employers use it
Employers that use the Bradford factor set their own score levels for reviewing someone's absence, and choose the period it covers. There are no legal rules about when absence should be reviewed. If your employer uses a score, Acas says its absence policy should set out how, and reaching it should not automatically lead to disciplinary action.
Absences linked to a disability may need reasonable adjustments, and absences related to pregnancy or mental health may need a different approach. Acas explains how to review absence fairly.