Absence Rate Calculator
Absence Rate
0.00%
Total Possible Workdays:
0
Total Days Lost:
0
Analysis:
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How to Calculate Absence Rate
Understanding how to calculate absence rate (also known as the absenteeism rate) is crucial for Human Resources professionals and business owners. It measures the percentage of working time lost due to unplanned absences, such as sickness or emergency leave. A high absence rate can indicate issues with workplace culture, employee health, or engagement.
The Absence Rate Formula
The standard formula used by the ISO and most HR departments is relatively straightforward. It compares the number of absent days to the total number of available workdays in a specific period.
Absence Rate = (Total Days Absent / Total Available Workdays) × 100
To break this down further, you first need to calculate the Total Available Workdays, which is:
- Average Number of Employees × Number of Workdays in the Period
Example Calculation
Let's say you want to calculate the absence rate for the month of November.
- Employees: You have 100 employees.
- Workdays: There are 20 working days in November.
- Total Possible Days: 100 employees × 20 days = 2,000 potential workdays.
- Absences: During the month, your records show a total of 50 days missed due to sickness or other unplanned reasons.
Calculation: (50 / 2,000) × 100 = 2.5%.
What is a Good Absence Rate?
Benchmarks vary significantly by industry and region, but general guidelines suggest:
- 1.5% or lower: Excellent. However, extremely low rates might indicate "presenteeism" (employees working while sick).
- 1.5% – 3.5%: Healthy/Average. This accounts for normal sickness and minor emergencies.
- Above 4%: High. This may require investigation into management practices, stress levels, or workplace safety.
Why Monitor Absenteeism?
Tracking this metric helps organizations quantify the cost of lost productivity. High absenteeism often correlates with high turnover rates and low employee morale. By using the calculator above regularly (monthly or quarterly), you can spot trends early and implement wellness programs or policy changes to improve the work environment.