What is a Bradford score?

A Bradford score is simply another name for the Bradford Factor. Both terms refer to the same formula (B = S² × D) and the same numerical result. "Bradford score" is commonly used by HR professionals and employees, while "Bradford Factor" is the more formal academic term. There is no functional difference between them.

What Bradford Factor score triggers a warning?

Trigger thresholds vary by employer and are not set in law. Common benchmarks used by UK organisations are: below 50 (low concern, no formal action), 50–199 (informal review or return-to-work interview), 200–499 (formal verbal or written warning), 500 and above (serious concern, final warning or capability process). Always check your employer's absence management policy for their specific thresholds.

Can I be dismissed for a high Bradford Factor score?

A high Bradford Factor score alone is not grounds for dismissal. However, it can be used as supporting evidence in a capability or conduct process where an employer has a genuine attendance concern. Any dismissal must follow a fair procedure under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and ACAS guidelines. Absences related to a disability may also be protected under the Equality Act 2010.

Does the Bradford Factor apply to long-term sickness?

Some employers exclude long-term sickness (typically absences lasting more than 4 consecutive weeks) from the Bradford Factor calculation, as it penalises serious illness unfairly. Check your employer's policy. Short-term frequent absences are what the Bradford Factor is specifically designed to measure.

What is the difference between Bradford Factor and Bradford score?

There is no difference, the Bradford Factor and Bradford score refer to the same measurement. Both use the formula B = S² × D. The term "Bradford score" tends to be used colloquially by employees and some HR systems, while "Bradford Factor" is the original academic terminology from the University of Bradford. This calculator works for both.

Updated 6 April 2026

Bradford Factor Calculator · Free UK 2026/27

Calculate Bradford Factor scores and Bradford scores for employee absence, using the standard B = S² × D formula.

✓ Free to use✓ B = S² × D formula✓ Risk bands included✓ Instant results

Bradford Factor Calculator

Enter absence spells and total days. Score and risk band appears instantly

Number of separate absence spells (S)

spells

Total days absent (D)

days

Bradford Factor score

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Enter your figures above to calculate

Monthly

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Weekly

£—

Daily

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Hourly

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Trigger thresholds vary by employer. This calculator applies the standard formula B = S² × D and is for guidance only.

How to Calculate the Bradford Factor

Quick Answer: The Bradford Factor score is calculated as B = S² × D, where S is the number of separate absence spells and D is the total days absent in a 52-week rolling period. For example, 4 spells totalling 12 days gives a score of 4² × 12 = 192.

What is the Bradford Factor?

The Bradford Factor (also called the Bradford score) is a formula used by UK HR departments to measure the impact of employee absence. It was developed at the University of Bradford and is widely used in absence management policies because it weights frequent short absences more heavily than a single long absence of the same total duration.

The key insight: an employee who takes 4 separate one-day absences scores 4² × 4 = 64, whereas one who takes a single 4-day absence scores 1² × 4 = 4. Same total days, very different scores.

Formula

B = S² × D

S = absence spells | D = total days absent | B = Bradford score

Worked Example: 4 spells, 12 days total

Number of absence spells (S)4

S squared (S²)16

Total days absent (D)12 days

Bradford Factor score (S² × D)192

Risk bandModerate

A score of 192 typically triggers an informal review under most UK absence management policies.

Bradford Factor vs Bradford Score: What is the Difference?

There is no difference. Bradford Factor and Bradford scoreare two names for exactly the same measurement. Both use the formula B = S² × D and produce the same numerical result. “Bradford Factor” is the original academic term; “Bradford score” is the phrase commonly used in HR software and by employees day to day. If your employer's policy refers to either term, the calculation is identical, and this calculator covers both.

Common Trigger Thresholds

Score range	Risk band	Typical response
0–49	Low	No formal action
50–199	Moderate	Informal review or return-to-work interview
200–499	High	Formal verbal or written warning
500+	Very High	Final warning or capability process

Thresholds are not set in law and vary by employer. Always check your organisation's absence management policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bradford Factor is calculated using the formula B = S² × D, where S is the number of separate absence spells in a rolling 52-week period, and D is the total number of days absent in the same period. Squaring S means that frequent short absences score much higher than a single long absence of the same total duration.