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Bradford Factor Formula & Excel Template

Based on the default pattern below, a typical score is 160. Adjust the inputs for your exact figure.

4 spells
10 days

Bradford score

160

Warning

Disruptive short-term absence pattern — a Stage 1 absence review and Return-to-Work interview are usually required.

050125400+

How it's worked out

S² × D = 4² × 10 = 160

Audit note

Trigger points are employer POLICY, not law — set the Notice / Warning / Critical thresholds under Adjust assumptions to match your own absence policy (the 50 / 125 / 400 defaults are just common practice). Apply them with discretion: under the Equality Act 2010, disability- and pregnancy-related absence may need to be discounted and the thresholds adjusted before any formal action.

Stop tracking this by hand

A Bradford score is only as accurate as the absence dates behind it. Tempry logs every request against an immutable ledger, so you're always calculating from an accurate record — not a spreadsheet you have to keep updating by hand.

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Different scenario? Try the full Bradford Factor calculator

How this calculation works

Work out a Bradford Factor score from absence spells and days, see which trigger-point tier it falls into, and understand what UK employers can and can't do with the result.

Worked example

S² × D = 4² × 10 = 160

Frequently asked questions

What is the Bradford Factor formula?
B = S² × D. S is the number of separate absence spells in a rolling 12 months and D is the total number of days absent. So four separate absences totalling ten days scores 4² × 10 = 160.
How do I calculate the Bradford Factor in Excel?
Put spells in one cell (say A2) and total days in another (B2), then use =A2^2*B2. Squaring the spells is the key step — a common mistake is multiplying spells × days without the square, which understates frequent absence.
Is a spreadsheet the best way to track this?
A spreadsheet works for a handful of people, but it doesn't roll the 12-month window forward automatically, alert you at trigger points, or keep an audit trail. That's why most teams move Bradford tracking into absence software once headcount grows.