Go deeper
Use this alongside the Bradford Factor calculator for individuals and the Statutory Sick Pay calculator for cost per absence. If producing this figure is a monthly scramble, an outsourced HR provider will report it from your leave and sickness records for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate absence rate?
Divide the total days lost to absence by the total available working days (employees × working days each) and multiply by 100. This is often called the lost time rate.
What is the average sickness absence in the UK?
Surveys in recent years have put the average at around 6 to 8 days per employee per year, the highest in over a decade, with higher figures in the public sector, health and care. Compare your figure with your own sector.
What does absence cost an employer?
The direct cost is the salary paid for days not worked. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is also payable from the first day. Indirect costs — cover, overtime, lost output and management time — often exceed the direct cost.
How can employers reduce absence?
Record every absence, hold return-to-work conversations, spot patterns early, support health conditions with adjustments and train managers. Accurate data is the starting point.
Why does absence tracking matter more for sponsors?
Sponsors must monitor sponsored workers’ attendance and report 10 consecutive working days of unauthorised absence, or more than 4 weeks of unpaid absence in a year, to the Home Office.
Official sources
Rules and fees checked September 2026. Immigration rules change often — this tool gives general information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on an individual case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or one of the firms listed here.