What is a Bradford Score and how is it calculated?

What is the Bradford Score? 

The Bradford Score is a widely used tool for measuring employee absence, helping organisations identify patterns of short-term, frequent absenteeism that may impact productivity. Named after its development at Bradford University School of Management, the scoring system assigns a numerical value to absence frequency and duration, giving managers clear insight into potential attendance issues.

Where can I view a team member's Bradford Score?

Depending on your access level, you can find a team member's Bradford Score in two places:

• Staff profile summary view — available if you have access to the employees Staff Profile. 
• Roster view — if you're the reports-to contact for that individual, you'll see the option when you click their name in the roster.

How is it calculated in Alkimii? 

The Bradford Score identifies problematic absenteeism — particularly frequent, short-term absences — by weighting the number of separate absences more heavily than the total days absent. In Alkimii, it's calculated as:

Bradford Score (B) = S² × D

• S = total instances of absence
• D = total days absent

Example:

• Good score: 1 absence over 5 days = Score: 5
• Bad score: 5 absences of 1 day each = Score: 125

Although both examples add up to 5 days absent overall, the second scenario scores far higher, because frequent, unpredictable absences tend to be more disruptive to a team than a single longer absence. 

Generally speaking, the lower the score, the better. A low score usually reflects infrequent, isolated absences, while a high score points to frequent, short-term absences that may be worth a closer look. As a general point of reference, some organisations use ranges along these lines:

• Under 50 — considered a normal range for most employees over a year, typically reflecting few or no absences.
• 50–100 — often treated as a point worth monitoring, as a pattern may be starting to emerge.
• 100–200 — generally seen as higher than average, and something many organisations would review more closely.
• 200+ — often regarded as a significant score, usually prompting a more formal response.

The time period used to calculate the score — either a calendar year or a rolling 12 months — is configured in the background for your organisation. If you're not sure which your organisation uses, contact your administrator or our customer success team.

Absences scheduled through HR > Leave on a team member's staff profile do not affect their Bradford Score. This section is typically used for longer-term, planned leave — such as long-term sickness or maternity leave — which is usually known about in advance and managed differently to the short-notice absences the Bradford Score is designed to track. For more information on setting this up, see our help article. 

What type of leave is included in the calculation?

1. Sickness
2. Unplanned
3. Unauthorised

Please note that shift types can be configured per hotel on request. If you'd like to learn more, contact our customer success team at hello@alkimii.com.

FAQs

Does a high Bradford Score mean an employee will face disciplinary action?
No. The score is a signal to prompt a closer look, not a decision in itself. Any next steps are entirely down to your organisation's own absence management policy.

Why did an employee's score not change after a recent absence?
Check whether the absence was logged through HR > Leave. This is typically used for long term, planned leave such as long-term sickness, maternity leave or jury duty and doesn't count towards the Bradford Score.

Can I see whether my organisation uses a calendar year or rolling 12 months?
This is configured in the background for your organisation. If you're unsure which applies, reach out to your administrator or our customer success team.