Absenteeism cost
calculator.
Calculate how much unplanned absences and late arrivals cost your business — and see how attendance tracking software can reduce those costs.
Your company details
Your estimated costs
How we calculate costs
Our calculator breaks down the true cost of absenteeism into three categories.
Direct absence cost
Salary paid during unplanned absences, calculated from average daily rate × absent days × number of employees.
Late arrival cost
Lost productive time from tardy arrivals, assuming 15 minutes of disruption per late arrival across the working year.
Productivity ripple effect
Impact on remaining team when colleagues are absent, estimated at 35% of direct costs based on CIPD research.
Calculator questions, clearly answered
Common questions about the absenteeism cost calculator and how the estimates are derived.
Talk to our team 01 How is the absenteeism cost calculated?
The calculator estimates cost using three components: direct absence salary cost (salary paid during unplanned absences), late arrival cost (productive time lost from tardy arrivals, assuming 15 minutes of disruption per late arrival), and a productivity ripple effect (the impact on remaining team members when colleagues are absent, estimated at 35% of direct costs based on CIPD research).
02 What is the average absenteeism rate?
Average absenteeism varies by country. In the UK, the CIPD 2024 Health and Wellbeing at Work report found an average of 6.7 days per employee per year. In Australia, the average is around 9.5 days per year, while in the US it is approximately 5.2 days per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
03 How accurate are these estimates?
The calculator provides conservative estimates based on published research from the CIPD and SHRM. Actual costs vary by industry, role, and region. The figures are designed as a starting point for understanding the financial impact of absenteeism on your business.
04 How does attendance tracking reduce absenteeism?
Attendance tracking software gives managers visibility into absence patterns, detects late arrivals automatically, and provides data to address chronic absenteeism early. By surfacing trends and enabling timely conversations, businesses typically reduce unplanned absences by 15–25%.
05 Does Leave Balance include attendance tracking?
Yes. Leave Balance includes full attendance tracking free at $10/month flat — check-in/out, late detection, absence resolution, and analytics for unlimited employees. No per-seat pricing, no add-on fees.