Absence cost, sick pay and Bradford Factor in ChatGPT

For UK employers, HR leads and managers. Ask ChatGPT in plain English and the Absence Cost Planner works out the answer with UK rules and official figures.

What you can ask

"We have 120 staff averaging 11 sick days a year on £36,400, in health and social care in Yorkshire. What is absence costing us?"

About £184,800 a year in pay. That is 192 days a year above the CIPD 2025 benchmark of 9.4 days, worth about £26,880. ONS figures give 6.2 days per worker in health and social care, 5.1 in Yorkshire and the Humber, and 5.0 for organisations of 50 to 499.

"We pay 4 weeks full pay then 4 weeks half pay. Someone on £450 a week has been off 6 weeks. What do we pay?"

£2,250 in total over 30 working days, of which £1,510.50 is above Statutory Sick Pay.

"Bradford Factor for 3 absences and 6 days, one 2-day absence linked to a disability."

54 on all absences, 16 once the disability-linked absence is left out, with a note on the Equality Act 2010.

"Back Monday after being off 14 to 25 September, fit note for a phased return. Plan the meeting."

12 calendar days and 10 working days off, a fit note was needed, plus an agenda and a list of things not to ask.

The rules it uses

Statutory Sick Pay from 6 April 2026: paid from the first day off, with no lower earnings limit, at the lower of £123.25 a week or 80% of average weekly earnings, for up to 28 weeks. Absences separated by 8 weeks or less link.
Company sick pay schemes are added on top, either including SSP (the usual case) or paid in addition.
Bradford Factor: number of separate absences squared, times total days. Absences linked to a disability or pregnancy can be left out, and only your own policy's trigger points are used.
Fit notes are needed after 7 calendar days. Four weeks or more counts as long-term absence.
Benchmarks: CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work 2025 (9.4 days per employee) and the ONS 2025 sickness absence release for industry, region and company size.

It gives calculations, not payroll or legal advice. For the full UK figures, see UK sickness absence rates, and for planning returns, return-to-work plans.

What it never asks for

Names of staff or clients
National Insurance numbers
Health details or reasons for absence

We don't save what you type. See our Privacy Policy.

Questions

Is the Absence Cost Planner free?

Yes. It is free to use inside ChatGPT and needs no account.

Does it use the April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay rules?

Yes. Since 6 April 2026, SSP is paid from the first day of sickness, there is no lower earnings limit, and the weekly rate is the lower of £123.25 or 80% of average weekly earnings.

Can it work out company sick pay as well as SSP?

Yes. Tell it how many weeks of full pay and half pay your scheme gives, and it shows what you pay in total and how much is above SSP.

Does the Bradford Factor count disability-related absence?

You can leave out absences linked to a disability or pregnancy. The Equality Act 2010 means they should not count against someone, and the tool says so.

What information does it need?

Figures only: headcount, earnings, days off and dates. It never asks for names, National Insurance numbers or the reason for an absence.