How to Calculate Bradford Factor Score: The Complete Sickness Absence Guide (2026)
A practical HR guide to Bradford Factor calculation, absence context, protected leave boundaries, and safer documentation.
For U.S. employers and small-business HR teams.
How to calculate Bradford Factor score
The Bradford Factor is often used to understand short-term absence patterns. It should be treated as a signal for review, not an automatic discipline decision.
The formula
Bradford Factor score = absence instances squared multiplied by total days absent. For example, 3 absence instances totaling 6 days gives 3 x 3 x 6 = 54.
What the score can show
Frequent short absences
Patterns worth reviewing
Need for a manager conversation
Sources and review notes
This article is written for U.S. small-business HR teams in 2026 and should be checked against your own policy, state requirements, and counsel guidance before use in a contested employment decision. AI SoloHR provides workflow structure, reviewed drafting support, and educational resources; it does not provide legal advice or make final employment decisions.
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