Pitman Shift Schedule: Fixed and Rotating 2-2-3 Variations

The Pitman schedule is best understood as a 2-2-3 calendar plus a day/night assignment. The work-and-rest sequence is:

2 work → 2 off → 3 work → 2 off → 2 work → 3 off

That sequence is also covered in the general 2-2-3 shift schedule guide. This page focuses on the detail the Pitman name often leaves unclear: whether your crew is fixed or rotating.

A 14-day Pitman calendar

This example begins on Monday and labels shifts only as “Work.” Replace that label with your actual day or night shift.

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	Work	Work	Off	Off	Work	Work	Work
2	Off	Off	Work	Work	Off	Off	Off

The first weekend is worked; the next weekend is free. After day 14, the same weekday alignment repeats.

Fixed versus rotating Pitman schedules

Fixed Pitman

One crew remains on day shifts and another remains on nights while following the same work/off pattern from different starting positions. Your calendar needs one shift type plus the 14-day sequence.

Rotating Pitman

A crew changes between days and nights after a longer interval defined by the employer. The work/off rhythm can still repeat every 14 days, while the full day/night assignment may take 28 days—or much longer—to return to its starting point.

Do not assume the switch happens every two weeks. Ask for the complete roster and identify the exact date when your shift type changes.

Working hours

Seven 12-hour shifts produce 84 scheduled hours in 14 days, averaging 42 hours per seven days. In a Monday-to-Sunday view, the example contains a 60-hour week followed by a 24-hour week.

That uneven display is normal for the pattern. It does not by itself determine overtime, paid breaks, or payroll calculations.

Advantages and disadvantages

Possible advantages

• Work stretches are limited to two or three days.
• The three-day weekend off returns every second week when properly aligned.
• A 14-day base sequence is predictable far in advance.
• Twelve-hour shifts reduce the number of commute days.

Possible disadvantages

• The three-shift working weekend can be demanding.
• Rotating versions add sleep transitions on top of 12-hour shifts.
• Calendar-week hours are uneven.
• The schedule name may hide employer-specific day/night changes.

Where Pitman schedules are used

Pitman-style four-crew coverage is associated with operations that run continuously, including emergency services, healthcare, manufacturing, utilities, and security. The exact local implementation matters more than the industry label.

Calendar setup checklist

Confirm your cycle’s first work day, your crew, the true start and end times, and whether you are on fixed or rotating shifts. Enter an overnight shift as one event spanning two dates. Keep leave, training, swaps, and overtime as exceptions to the base pattern.

If your employer calls the same roster a Panama schedule, read the Panama schedule guide for the four-crew coverage view and naming differences.

Long shifts need a separate safety assessment

The CCOHS rotational-shiftwork guidance explains that workload, shift length, recovery, and rotation direction all affect a schedule’s impact. This calendar example explains the pattern; it is not occupational-health advice.