Bradford score
If two team members each miss ten days of work, should it always be treated the same?
Not necessarily. One might have taken a single two‑week absence, while the other has been off ten separate single days. The Bradford score helps you spot those different patterns and understand which ones disrupt your rota and team the most.
This guide explains what the Bradford score is, why it is used, and how to apply it fairly as part of your absence management.
What is the Bradford score?
The Bradford score (also known as the Bradford Factor) is a way of measuring the impact of absence by giving more weight to frequent, short‑term absences than to the same number of days taken in one longer block.
The formula is:
S² × D = B
where:
S is the number of spells (separate instances) of absence in a set period
D is the total number of days absent in that period
B is the Bradford score
The higher the score, the more disruptive the absence pattern is considered to be.
Why use the Bradford score?
Relying on gut feel to judge attendance can lead to inconsistency and frustration. The Bradford score can help you:
Increase fairness. Use a consistent, objective way to measure absence patterns.
Spot hidden patterns. Highlight repeated short absences that might otherwise be missed.
Act early. Trigger supportive conversations before issues escalate.
Back up policies. Link your absence procedures to clear thresholds and data.
Protect productivity. Reduce the impact of last minute call‑ins on rotas and service.
Used well, the score is a starting point for a conversation, not a penalty on its own.
How to use the Bradford score in practice
Working out scores by hand for every team member can quickly become a burden. A good absence management set up usually includes:
HR or workforce tools that track every spell and day of absence automatically
real‑time Bradford score calculations across a chosen period (for example, 52 weeks)
agreed thresholds that trigger manager check‑ins or HR reviews
absence reasons stored alongside scores, so you have context before acting
simple reports for audits, policy reviews and workforce planning
This helps managers see patterns clearly and respond in a way that balances fairness, wellbeing and business needs.
Who uses the Bradford score?
The Bradford score is often used in:
hospitality, retail and leisure businesses with shift‑based teams
healthcare and care settings where short‑notice absence can impact safety and cover
offices and multi‑site organisations managing larger headcounts
It can support:
Managers, by giving them a clear, shared framework for talking about attendance.
HR and people teams, by making it easier to apply policies consistently.
Team members, by giving them transparency about how absence is assessed and when conversations will happen.
When it is used responsibly, the Bradford score is less about “catching people out” and more about noticing patterns early and offering the right support.
Get your absence data together
Absence will always be part of running a team – but unmanaged patterns can quickly hit service and morale.
By tracking the Bradford score alongside reasons and context, and using the right tools to keep everything up to date, you can handle attendance in a way that feels clear, consistent and fair to everyone.
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