Bradford Factor Calculator

Your details

Absence spells (group 1)

Days per spell (group 1)

Absence spells (group 2)

Days per spell (group 2)

Absence spells (group 3)

Days per spell (group 3)

Absence spells (group 4)

Days per spell (group 4)

Absence spells (group 5)

Days per spell (group 5)

Absence spells (group 6)

Days per spell (group 6)

Bradford Factor ScoreLow

S x S x D score over the 52-week period

Total absence spells (S)3

Total days absent (D)3

27 points

Low<50Moderate50-200High200-500Very high500+

Bradford Factor is 27, low and acceptable.

The employee had 3 separate absence spells totalling 3 days in the rolling 52-week window.
Because the spell count is squared, having many short absences raises the score far more than one long absence of the same total days.
No formal action is typically required at this level.
For comparison, a single unbroken absence of 3 days would score 3 - the frequent-spell penalty makes the actual score 27 instead.

Next stepAlways review the Bradford Factor alongside the nature of each absence. Disabilities, chronic conditions and pregnancy-related absences may warrant a different approach under employment law.