Absence management for UK employers

Absence Management Software
for UK Employers

Record sickness consistently, keep return-to-work follow-up in view, and give managers the context they need for a fair conversation. Leavely keeps the history, documents, and reports together.

Free 14-day trial. No credit card required. £8/user/month after.

A clear record before the next conversation

Good absence management starts with consistent facts: what happened, when it happened, what follow-up is due, and what context a manager needs to consider.

One record

Sickness, notes, and documents stay together

12 months

Bradford calculations use a consistent period

CSV export

Reports can leave the system when needed

Tools to record and review absence

Complete Standard toolkit included at £8 per user per month. No setup fee or fixed term.

Bradford Factor reporting

Scores are calculated from recorded sickness absence and shown with the spell and day counts behind them, across a rolling 12-month view.

Pattern and trend context

Review current scores, movement over time, and repeat patterns as context for a supportive conversation — not as an automatic conclusion.

Return-to-work interviews

Leavely prompts managers to complete a return-to-work interview when an employee comes back from sick leave. Every record is stored and auditable.

Absence trend reports

See absence patterns across your organisation. Filter by department, team, or individual. Export reports for board meetings, HR reviews, or occupational health referrals.

Fit note tracking

Record fit note details, expiry dates, and any workplace adjustments recommended by the GP. Never lose track of when a fit note needs renewing.

Department-level visibility

HR managers see the whole organisation. Line managers see only their direct reports. Employees see only their own records. Role-based access keeps data secure.

How Leavely helps managers handle absence consistently

1

Record every absence consistently

When an employee calls in sick, record it in Leavely. The reason, dates, and any supporting documentation are stored against their profile. No more sticky notes or forgotten emails.

2

Spot patterns with the Bradford Factor

Leavely calculates the Bradford Factor automatically. Frequent short-term absences score higher than a single long absence, helping you identify employees who may need support or a formal conversation.

3

Review the individual context

Use the score, spell history, trend, and your own policy as prompts. Protected absence and reasonable adjustments still need human consideration.

4

Keep follow-up together

Return-to-work notes, fit-note details, and absence reports stay connected to the employee record and can be exported when a review needs them.

A score is context, not a decision

Acas advises employers not to use absence review points to trigger disciplinary action automatically and to consider adjustments for disability-related absence.

Why choose Leavely for absence management?

Purpose-built, not bolted on

Many HR platforms treat absence tracking as an afterthought. Leavely is built around leave and absence management from the ground up, so every feature is designed with this workflow in mind.

Predictable for growing teams

Leavely publishes one price of £8 per active user per month. Review the included features and model your real headcount on the pricing page before subscribing.

No sales calls, no implementation

Sign up, add your team, and start using Leavely in minutes. There is no demo requirement, no onboarding project, and no minimum contract length.

UK-focused workflows, with a clear boundary

Fit-note records, Bradford Factor calculations, return-to-work follow-up, and UK date formats are built in. Leavely organises the process; it does not replace employment-law advice.

Start managing absence properly

Free 14-day trial. No credit card. No sales call required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Bradford Factor and how does Leavely calculate it?
The Bradford Factor is a formula used to measure the impact of short-term absence. It is calculated as S x S x D, where S is the number of separate absence spells and D is the total number of days absent. Leavely calculates this automatically for every employee based on their recorded sick leave and updates the score in real time.
How does Leavely help managers review absence patterns?
Leavely calculates Bradford Factor scores from recorded sickness absence and shows the underlying spells and days in employee profiles and reports. Managers can use that history as context for a supportive review under the organisation’s own absence policy.
Does Leavely support return-to-work interviews?
Yes. When an employee returns from sick leave, Leavely prompts the manager to complete a return-to-work interview. The record is stored against the employee profile as part of their absence history, creating a documented audit trail.
How much does absence management software cost?
Leavely costs £8 per user per month with the complete Standard toolkit included. There are no setup fees and no annual contracts. The 14-day free trial includes the complete Standard toolkit with no credit card required.