What is a Pitman schedule?
The Pitman schedule is a 12-hour shift rotation that follows the 2-2-3 rhythm: work 2 days, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. It repeats every 14 days and gives you every other weekend off.
What makes it "Pitman" is that teams do not rotate between days and nights. Two teams always work days and two always work nights, which many people find easier on sleep than a rotating schedule.
How the Pitman rotation works
The cycle: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off — repeats every 14 days, fixed day or night teams.
Team A and Team B share the day shift: when A works, B is off, and the other way round. Teams C and D do the same on nights.
You work 7 shifts in every 14 days — 84 hours, or 42 a week on average. In the usual setup one week has 3 shifts (36 hours) and the next has 4 (48 hours, with 8 hours of overtime); where the employer's workweek starts can change that split.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||
| B | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||
| C | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | |||||||
| D | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
Pitman hours and days off
| Shift length | 12 hours |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | 14 days |
| Teams for 24/7 coverage | 4 |
| Hours in a 7-day week | 24 to 60 (depends where the week falls in the cycle) |
| Average hours per week | 42 |
| Hours per year (scheduled) | about 2,190 |
| Shifts per year | about 183 |
| Days off per year | about 183 |
Overtime: federal law (FLSA) counts overtime by the workweek — hours over 40 in a fixed 7-day week.On a Pitman schedule a single week can reach 60 hours even though the average is 42, so expect overtime in the heavier weeks. How much depends on which day your employer's workweek starts — the shift pay calculator shows the range. Some states, such as California and Alaska, also pay daily overtime after 8 hours.
Who uses the Pitman schedule?
- Police departments (a classic police schedule)
- Manufacturing and warehouses running 24/7
- Hospitals and security
Pros and cons
Pros
- No switching between days and nights
- Every other weekend off (Friday to Sunday)
- Never more than 3 shifts in a row
Cons
- Permanent night teams can struggle long-term
- Day teams get the more popular hours — fair team assignment matters
- 12-hour shifts are long
Variations
2-2-3 (Panama): The same rhythm, with teams rotating between days and nights.
8-hour Pitman: Some operations run the 2-2-3 rhythm on 8-hour shifts with more teams.
Pitman compared with similar rotations
| Rotation | Cycle | Shift | Avg hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitman Schedule | 14 days | 12 h | 42 |
| 2-2-3 Schedule (Panama) | 28 days | 12 h | 42 |
| DuPont Schedule | 28 days | 12 h | 42 |
| 4 On 4 Off Schedule | 8 days | 12 h | 42 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pitman schedule?
A 14-day rotation of 12-hour shifts: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. Teams stay on days or nights permanently.
Is Pitman the same as 2-2-3?
They share the same rhythm. Pitman usually means fixed day and night teams; the Panama 2-2-3 rotates teams between days and nights.
Do you get weekends off on a Pitman schedule?
Yes, every other weekend — a three-day weekend from Friday to Sunday.
How many hours is a Pitman schedule?
42 hours a week on average: 36 hours one week and 48 the next.
ShiftRotations is an independent site. Rotations vary between employers and departments — always check your own schedule or contract.