Free HR calculator
Absenteeism Cost Calculator
Estimate what unscheduled absences cost your business each year. Use your headcount, pay, benefits, and missed days to see employee costs and additional coverage expenses separately.
About this calculator
Method note: How to estimate the cost of absenteeism Note reviewed
Before you begin Have your headcount, average annual pay, and estimated absence days ready. This takes about two minutes.
Workforce details
Cost assumptions
Estimated annual absence cost
Cost breakdown
Email your results
Email your estimate and the figures behind it.
How absence costs add up
What goes into the estimate
Unscheduled sick days, missed shifts, and other unexpected absences can create costs beyond employee pay. Overtime, temporary coverage, and delayed work can add to the total. The annual estimate combines daily employee costs, missed days, and headcount.
See the calculation
How absence costs add up
Divide annual pay plus benefits by working days to calculate daily employee cost. Multiply that amount by absence days and headcount, then apply the coverage factor. The breakdown separates the base employee cost from the additional impact.
Compare with research
The CDC Foundation estimated $1,685 in annual lost productivity per employee. Circadian research estimated roughly $3,600 for an hourly worker and $2,650 for a salaried worker, including coverage costs. These research estimates provide a reference point for your own staffing and pay figures.
Why the multiplier matters
The multiplier accounts for overtime, temporary coverage, and delayed work. Choose 1.0 when coverage is rarely needed and the work is completed later. Use 1.6 or higher when absences create additional coverage or productivity costs. Nicholson and colleagues found higher multipliers in team-based, time-sensitive work and roles that are difficult to cover.
Look at department costs
Compare absence costs by department
Your company-wide estimate is a starting point. The workbook lets you compare departments using their own headcount, pay, and absence days. See direct costs, additional coverage costs, and potential savings from one or two fewer absence days per employee.
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Compare this estimate with your records to help plan your next step.