How to calculate sickness absence rate

Measuring sickness absence is extremely important for any organisation working towards maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.

Gaining an understanding of how to calculate sickness absence rates and related metrics provides valuable insights into employee wellbeing and organisational efficiency. By monitoring and analysing these metrics, employers can identify trends, patterns, and potential areas for improvement.

How to calculate absence rate

1. Absence rate

Absence rate is calculated as the total number of days lost to sickness absence divided by the total number of available working days, usually expressed as a percentage.

You can work out your employees’ absence rate using this formula:
Absence Rate = (Total Days Lost to Absence / Total Available Working Days) × 100

2. Days lost per employee

This is a way of indicating the average number of days lost to sickness per employee over a specific period.

You can work out days lost per employee by using this formula:
Days Lost per Employee = Total Days Lost to Absence / Total Number of Employees​

3. Days lost to absence

This is the total number of working days lost due to sickness absence over a given period.

4. Cost of lost productivity

Calculating the cost of lost productivity involves multiplying the total days lost to absence by the average daily cost of employing an individual.

You can work out the cost of lost productivity using this formula:
Cost of Lost Productivity = Total Days Lost to Absence × Average Daily Employment Cost

Using GoodShape to measure and analyse sickness absence

GoodShape’s absence management platform provides comprehensive tools for tracking and analysing sickness absence to help your organisation manage these metrics effectively. Leave the hard work to us - with GoodShape, you have access to all the stats you could ever need when it comes to measuring sickness absence.

Personalised absence statistics

GoodShape provides employees with their personal absence statistics at the touch of a button directly through the GoodShape App, with access to real-time data available to managers and HR teams at all times through the GoodShapeCentral platform. We provide easy to digest data on:

• Total absences - A view of each employee’s total absent days, broken down by short-term and long-term absences over the last 12 months.
• Working days lost - A view of total days missed from work over the past 12 months.
• Absence rate - Personal absence rate compared to the organisation’s average.
• Bradford score - Many businesses use the Bradford Factor to measure sickness absence rates across the organisation. This formula was developed to provide a benchmark measurement for absence in the workplace, based on the assumption that frequent short-term absences are more disruptive to a business than longer, less frequent absences. In the GoodShape App, employees can view a personal score that measures the frequency and length of absences compared to the organisation’s average.
• Total days lost by weekday - A view broken down by short-term and long-term absences.
• Top absence reasons - A summary of common reasons for absences, helping to identify health trends and areas for intervention.

Real-time data and predictive analytics

GoodShape’s absence management platform uses real-time data and predictive analytics to provide insights into absence patterns and potential future risks, enabling organisations to make informed, data-led decisions and implement proactive measures to reduce absence rates.

Comprehensive absence rate reporting

GoodShape’s detailed reports and dashboards highlight critical trends in employee health and business impact. These reports help HR managers understand the underlying causes of absence and develop targeted strategies to address them.

Taking action with GoodShape

By effectively calculating and analysing absence data, you can gain valuable insights into your workforce health and wellbeing. We empower you to to:

• Identify high-risk employees - Pinpoint departments or employee groups with higher absence rates for targeted interventions.

• Implement prevention strategies - Develop and implement proactive measures like wellness programmes or stress management workshops based on data insights.

• Monitor progress - Track the effectiveness of implemented initiatives and make adjustments as needed.

Managing sickness absence is not just about cost reduction, it's about employee health and overall organisational wellbeing. GoodShape equips you with the data and tools to promote a healthy work environment, reduce sickness absence rates, and ultimately, achieve a more productive and resilient workforce.

How GoodShape recognises and addresses burnout

Recognising burnout with GoodShape

GoodShape uses advanced data capture and analysis techniques to identify signs of burnout in the workplace thanks to the latest technologies and absence management software.

• 24/7 absence reporting and data capture - GoodShape provides accurate, complete, and consistent reporting of all sickness and unplanned absences to help you identify patterns of absenteeism related to stress and mental health.
• Alert engine - The platform’s alert engine triggers notifications for relevant actions, such as referrals to mental health services, when specific patterns of absenteeism are detected.
• Health monitoring - GoodShape integrates with medical records and wearable fitness apps to track detailed health data. This enables proactive detection of health issues and needs, including signs of burnout.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your employee wellbeing initiatives?

Request your free absence report today and discover how our platform can empower your workforce and create a thriving workplace culture.