1. What is the Bradford Factor?

The Bradford Factor is a human resources metric used to measure employee absenteeism. It emphasizes the impact of frequent short-term absences by squaring the number of incidents and multiplying by the total days absent.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Bradford Factor formula:

Where:

• \( I \) — Number of incidents (instances of absence)
• \( D \) — Total days absent

Explanation: The formula gives more weight to frequent short absences than to longer-term absences, as these are often more disruptive to business operations.

3. Importance of Bradford Factor

Details: Organizations use the Bradford Factor to identify patterns of absence that may require intervention. Higher scores indicate more problematic absence patterns.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of separate absence instances and the total number of days absent. Both values must be non-negative integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Bradford Factor score?
A: Scores are typically interpreted as: 0-50 (no concern), 51-100 (monitor), 101-200 (counseling), 201-400 (disciplinary action), 400+ (dismissal).

Q2: Why square the number of incidents?
A: Squaring emphasizes frequent short absences which are more disruptive than fewer longer absences with the same total days.

Q3: How far back should incidents be counted?
A: Typically a rolling 52-week period is used, but policies vary by organization.

Q4: Are there limitations to the Bradford Factor?
A: It doesn't account for legitimate long-term illness or disability, and should be used alongside other HR metrics.

Q5: Is the Bradford Factor used outside the UK?
A: While developed in the UK, it's used internationally, though some countries have legal restrictions on its use.