Your inputs
Employee count, salary cost, work regime and absence percentages form the primary basis.
Explanation
The core calculation
The calculator combines your workforce and salary data with your absence percentages. Wage cost is calculated as lost working days × (annual salary ÷ working days) × 1.30 for social charges. Benefits and insurance are allocated pro rata and shown separately.
Indirect costs such as productivity loss, management time, knowledge loss, quality loss and delay are handled as separate assumptions. The result is therefore a scenario based on selected inputs, not an accounting or actuarial truth.
In practice
Explicit assumptions
Mark-ups and indirect costs remain visible, so you know which choices influence the result.
Scenario, not promise
The outcome supports discussion and prioritization; it does not predict guaranteed savings.
Method
Use the outcome responsibly
Use current data from your own organization where possible and record the reporting period. Only compare figures that use the same definition, population and time frame.
A useful baseline combines cost with context: frequency, duration, role profile, process quality and sustainable return. Review changes over time rather than drawing conclusions from one snapshot.
- Check employee count, salary cost and working days
- Use consistent definitions for short, medium and long-term absence
- Record which indirect cost factors are enabled
- Store the date, source and version of the input
- Validate financial or legal decisions independently
Sector levels in the tool refer to the SD Worx Absence Barometer 2025. For formal reporting, always verify the original source, your payroll data and the definitions used.
What the calculator does not do
The calculator does not diagnose, assess an individual case or replace financial, medical or legal expertise. It provides a transparent decision scenario.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why does the formula use a factor of 1.30?
It is a general scenario mark-up for social charges. Your actual employer cost may differ, so the result must be read as an indication.
Are indirect costs objective?
Not entirely. They depend on context and assumptions. They are therefore named separately and should be adjusted or excluded when unsupported.
Can I use the result as a business case?
As a first scenario, yes. For an investment decision, use validated internal data, explicit definitions and a sensitivity analysis with several assumptions.
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Last content review: 24 September 2026