Bradford Formula

The Bradford Factor is a formula used to measure and standardize employee absenteeism. Rather than treating all absences the same, it weights frequent short absences more heavily than a single extended absence, on the basis that repeated unplanned absences tend to be more disruptive to operations than one longer planned absence.

The formula is: S² × D = B

Where S is the number of separate absence instances, D is the total number of days absent, and B is the Bradford Factor score.

The squaring of S means that frequency has a disproportionate impact on the score. An employee who takes ten one-day absences across a year will score significantly higher than one who takes a single ten-day absence, even though the total days missed are the same. That distinction is intentional: it’s the pattern of absence, not just the volume, that the Bradford Factor is designed to surface.

Organizations use the score to identify when absence patterns warrant a closer look or a formal conversation, giving managers a consistent basis for decision-making rather than relying on judgment alone.