The Bradford Score is a bullshit system and it damages those that are most vulnerable. I appreciate that it works to deter able-bodied and neurotypical people from having short-term absences, but what about everyone else?

Yes, this is gonna be a thread.

For a bit of background, the ‘Bradford factor’ is used by a lot of HR teams. It measures employee’s absences by calculating a score:

The number of days absent x number of days absent x instances of absence

Every workplace has a different score that triggers a review.

Now, in theory, it works to stop people taking days off for a little cold or ‘pulling a sickie’ - and it also works if someone has a long-term illness that means they’re not in work for a long (uninterrupted) period of time.

But now consider people that have the sort of long-term illness that means some days they can function normally, and some days the simplest of tasks are impossible. For example, severe depression, ME, Fibromyalgia, plus so many more chronic illnesses.

This scoring system hurts.

Sometimes, one day off here and there is all we need. We have a long-term condition, but that doesn’t mean we need/have long-term absences. Those days where getting out of bed is impossible. When lifting your arms makes you cry with pain. Stairs are a nightmare.

But, you’ve had four separate days off work. One in July, one in September, two in October. One more and you know you’re going to trigger a meeting. You’re told not to worry about it because they understand your situation, but still... it doesn’t feel great.

Also, consider ‘typical’ illnesses on top of that. You’ve caught flu, or that bug that’s going round, or maybe you’ve fell and injured your knee.

You’re left trying to prioritise which illnesses you give yourself an absence for.

Do you take it off when you have flu, because it’s made your other symptoms worse, and you don’t want others to catch it? Or do you take a day off when your pain is so bad it’s making you cry and wanting to vomit?

I try to prioritise my health first. I try to give myself the right amount of rest I need. But it’s near-impossible.

I don’t get paid when I’m off sick, and I know I won’t be the only one in that situation. I can barely afford rent and bills. I can’t afford to rest.

That’s my two cents on the issue. I’m lucky to have a workplace that is pretty accommodating and willing to help and understand my situation. But still, this method of measuring absence just seems ableist to me and it irks me whenever I think about it.