Absenteeism Rate Calculator

How it is calculated

The rate is a single ratio of days: absenteeism rate = lost days ÷ scheduled days × 100. Lost days is the number of working days missed through absence in the period; half days can be entered as decimals (4.5). Scheduled days is every workday the group was due to work in the same period, which is employees multiplied by their working days, not calendar days. Both figures must cover the same people and the same period. The result is a percentage with two decimals, and zero lost days gives 0.00%. Scheduled days must be above zero, lost days cannot be negative, and lost days cannot exceed scheduled days: in any of those cases the tool shows no result. Which absences you count, only unplanned ones or all of them, is your decision; the tool divides whatever number you give it.

Common mistakes

• Using calendar days or the number of employees as the scheduled days. Scheduled days means employees times the working days each was due to work in the period.
• Counting planned leave as lost days when your definition covers only unplanned absence. Decide the definition first and apply it to every period you compare.
• Mixing periods, such as a year of lost days over a month of scheduled days. Both numbers must cover the same group and the same dates.
• Counting a part-time employee as a full workday. Use a consistent unit; if you count half days, count them in both numbers.
• Entering more lost days than scheduled days, for example 1,400 over 1,320. There is no result, because an absence rate cannot pass 100%; one of the two figures is wrong.