Understanding the 2-2-3 Rotating Shift Schedule (Pitman Guide)

How the popular 14-day Pitman rotation balances 24/7 industrial coverage with regular 3-day weekends and fatigue control.

Key Statistics at a Glance

Cycle Duration

14 Days

2 Repeating Weeks

Shift Length

12 Hours

Day or Night Shifts

Avg Workweek

42 Hours

36h / 48h Alternating

Weekend Off

Every 2 Weeks

Full 3-Day Weekend

1. How the 2-2-3 Rotation Works

The 2-2-3 schedule is designed around a two-week (14-day) cycle using four dedicated teams (Teams A, B, C, and D) to guarantee two teams are always on duty (one covering the day shift, one covering the night shift) while the remaining two teams are on scheduled rest.

The pattern gets its name from the sequence of work days and off days an individual team follows over the 14 days:

The Repeating 14-Day Cycle Sequence:

2 Days ON 2 Days OFF 3 Days ON 2 Days OFF 2 Days ON 3 Days OFF

2. Complete 14-Day Four-Team Schedule Matrix

The matrix below demonstrates how four squads interlock across two consecutive weeks. At any single moment, one squad is on Day Shift (D), one is on Night Shift (N), and two are Off (O).

Squad	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
Squad 1 (Day)	D	D	O	O	D	D	D	O	O	D	D	O	O	O	84 hrs
Squad 2 (Day)	O	O	D	D	O	O	O	D	D	O	O	D	D	D	84 hrs
Squad 3 (Night)	N	N	O	O	N	N	N	O	O	N	N	O	O	O	84 hrs
Squad 4 (Night)	O	O	N	N	O	O	O	N	N	O	O	N	N	N	84 hrs

*Legend: D = 12-Hour Day Shift (07:00 – 19:00), N = 12-Hour Night Shift (19:00 – 07:00), O = Scheduled Off Day.

3. Advantages & Challenges of the 2-2-3 Pattern

Key Advantages

Every Other Weekend Off: Workers enjoy 26 three-day weekends (Friday through Sunday) per year.
Max 3 Consecutive Shifts: Employees never work more than 3 twelve-hour shifts in a row, minimizing accumulated sleep debt.
Predictable Personal Life: Because the schedule repeats precisely every 14 days, personal events, vacations, and childcare can be scheduled years in advance.
Fewer Commutes: Working 12-hour shifts means commuting to work only 182 days per year instead of 260 days.

Potential Challenges

Long 12-Hour Days: With commute, meal prep, and personal hygiene, a 12-hour workday leaves very little free personal time on workdays.
2-Day Off Blocks Can Feel Short: A 2-day off period between shifts often requires one recovery day, leaving only one fully functional off day.
Overtime Thresholds: The 48-hour week triggers 8 hours of mandatory overtime in jurisdictions enforcing weekly 40-hour FLSA limits.

Generate Your Own 2-2-3 Shift Calendar

Customize start dates, squads, and export directly to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or CSV.

Open 2-2-3 Generator

Frequently asked questions

What is a 2-2-3 shift schedule?

A 2-2-3 schedule (also known as the Pitman schedule) is a rotating 14-day cycle that uses four teams working 12-hour shifts to provide 24/7 continuous coverage. The pattern sequences: 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off.

How many hours do employees work on a 2-2-3 schedule?

Over the 14-day cycle, an employee works 7 twelve-hour shifts totaling 84 work hours (an average of 42 hours per week). One week consists of 36 hours (3 shifts), while the alternating week consists of 48 hours (4 shifts).

How often do you get weekends off on a 2-2-3 schedule?

Employees on a 2-2-3 schedule get a full 3-day weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) off every other week, alternating with a 3-day working weekend.

What is the difference between a Pitman schedule and a 2-2-3 schedule?

The terms are largely interchangeable. The Pitman schedule is the formal name for the fixed 2-2-3 pattern commonly used in municipal police departments and emergency dispatch centers. Some variations rotate between day and night shifts every 28 days (often called the Panama schedule).

How is overtime paid on a 2-2-3 schedule?

Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), overtime is based on a 40-hour statutory workweek for non-exempt employees. During the 48-hour week, employees typically earn 8 hours of overtime pay, resulting in 4 hours of overtime per 80-hour biweekly pay period.