Bradford factor calculator
Spells² × days. Enter the times someone was off sick and the days in total, over the last 12 months.
Used fairly, it starts a conversation
The formula isn’t law. What makes it fair is what you leave out and what you do with the number.
Acas’s guide to recording sickness absence describes trigger and review points, and warns against discriminating when you record absence. Its pages on pregnancy-related sickness and disability-related absence say what to keep out of the count (read on 30 October 2026).
This calculator is guidance, not legal advice. For one person’s situation, ask Acas (0300 123 1100, free) or a solicitor.
Scores worked out for you
KivoHR works out scores from recorded sickness, always leaves out disability and pregnancy-related days, and tells managers and HR when someone reaches a level you set.
Bradford factor questions.
What is the Bradford factor?
A score for sickness absence: the number of spells, squared, times the total days. It weighs short, frequent absences far more than one long one, so 6 one-day spells score 216 while one 6-day spell scores 6.
What score should trigger a review?
There is no level set in law. Your absence policy decides the levels and what happens at each, and should say so before anyone is scored. A score is a prompt to talk, not a reason to act on its own.
Should pregnancy-related sickness count?
No. Acas says employers should not count pregnancy-related sickness towards any review or trigger points. During the pregnancy and maternity leave, treating someone unfavourably because of a pregnancy-related illness is discrimination under section 18 of the Equality Act 2010.
What about disability-related absence?
Acas gives not counting some or all disability-related absence, or raising the trigger, as examples of reasonable adjustments. Acting on a score that includes it risks a claim under sections 15 and 20 of the Equality Act 2010.
What period should I count over?
Most employers use a rolling 52 weeks or 12 months. Use the same period for everyone, and write it in your policy.
Do part days count?
Your policy decides. KivoHR counts any day with time off sick as a day.
Absence that’s counted fairly, every time.
14 days free, no card needed.