How the Pitman schedule works
A Pitman crew works 2 days on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off, then the 14-day cycle repeats. That works out to 7 shifts every two weeks. With 12-hour shifts, that averages 42 hours a week.
Four crews (usually called A, B, C and D) share the work so the operation is staffed around the clock. In the classic Pitman setup, two crews always work days and two always work nights. On any given day, one day crew and one night crew are working while the other two crews are off.
The two crews on the same shift are mirror images of each other: when crew A works, crew B is off, and the other way around. That's why the 3-day stretches matter. Every other week, your three days off fall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so you get a full three-day weekend.
Some people call the same rhythm "2-3-2". It's the same 14-day cycle, counted from a different starting day: start counting on the second day of a 2-day block and you get 2-3-2.
| Week 1 | Week 2 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
| Crew A | D | D | · | · | D | D | D | · | · | D | D | · | · | · |
| Crew B | · | · | D | D | · | · | · | D | D | · | · | D | D | D |
| Crew C | N | N | · | · | N | N | N | · | · | N | N | · | · | · |
| Crew D | · | · | N | N | · | · | · | N | N | · | · | N | N | N |
"2-3-2" is the same 14-day cycle counted from a different starting day.
Every other weekend is a 3-day weekend (Friday–Sunday off).
Pitman schedule at a glance
- Cycle length
- 14 days
- Shifts per year
- about 183
- Average hours per week
- 42
- Hours in a single week
- 24 to 60
- Weekends fully off per year
- about 26 of 52
- Longest break
- 3 days in a row
- Day shift (typical)
- 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Night shift (typical)
- 7:00 pm – 7:00 am (next day)
Calculated from the rotation itself, assuming the cycle starts on a Monday. Your weekends and holidays depend on how your employer lines up the cycle, so set your own date in the calendar above.
Pitman vs. 2-2-3 vs. Panama
All three names describe the same 2-on, 2-off, 3-on rhythm. The difference is whether crews switch between days and nights. In a fixed Pitman schedule (this page), each crew stays on days or stays on nights. In a rotating 2-2-3 schedule, crews switch every two weeks. In the Panama schedule, the switch usually happens every four weeks. Employers don't always use these names the same way, so check whether your crew switches between days and nights.
Pros and cons
What people like
- Every other weekend is a 3-day weekend.
- Never more than 3 shifts in a row.
- Fixed days or nights, so your body clock never has to flip.
- Only about 15 days of work a month.
What's hard
- 12-hour shifts are long, especially with a commute.
- Short breaks: you never get more than 3 days off in a row.
- Permanent night crews may struggle with family time and sleep.
- Weekly hours swing up and down, which can make paychecks uneven.
Who uses the Pitman schedule
Variations
- Fixed Pitman (days or nights)
- The standard version shown here: two day crews and two night crews that never switch.
- Rotating Pitman
- Crews switch between days and nights every two or four weeks. See the 2-2-3 rotating schedule and the Panama schedule.
- 8-hour versions
- Rare. The 2-2-3 rhythm only gives full coverage with 12-hour shifts and 4 crews. For 8-hour coverage, see the continental schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pitman schedule?
A Pitman schedule is a 12-hour rotating shift pattern where each crew works 2 days, has 2 off, works 3, has 2 off, works 2, and has 3 off. The cycle repeats every 14 days. Four crews cover all 24 hours, and each crew gets every other weekend off.
How many hours a week is a Pitman schedule?
It averages 42 hours a week: 7 twelve-hour shifts every two weeks, or 84 hours per two-week period. Individual weeks are uneven. Depending on where your pay week starts, you might work 36 hours one week and 48 the next, or 24 and then 60.
Do you get overtime on a Pitman schedule?
It depends on where your employer starts its pay week. The rotation always averages 42 hours, but a single week can be 36 and the next 48, or 24 and then 60, depending on how the 14-day cycle lines up with the pay week. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, most hourly workers earn overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, so many 2-2-3 workers get a few hours of overtime every other week. Public safety agencies and hospitals can use different overtime periods, so check with your HR or payroll office.
How many weekends do you get off on a Pitman schedule?
Every other weekend. When the cycle starts on a Monday, as most employers set it up, your 3-day break lands on Friday, Saturday and Sunday every second week. That's 26 full weekends off a year. Use the calendar above to see your exact weekends.
Is the Pitman schedule the same as the 2-2-3 schedule?
They use the same 2-2-3 rhythm. "Pitman" usually means crews stay on fixed days or nights, while "2-2-3" is often used for rotating versions too. The Panama schedule is the same rhythm with crews rotating between days and nights.
How many days a year do you work on a Pitman schedule?
About 182 or 183 shifts a year, which is half the days in the year. With 12-hour shifts that's around 2,190 hours, close to a standard 2,080-hour work year plus some overtime.
How do I find out which days I work?
Choose Pitman and your crew in the calendar on this page, then enter one date you know you worked and which shift it was. The calendar lines up the cycle and shows every shift for any year, which you can add to your phone's calendar (or print, on the website).
This page is general information, not legal or payroll advice. Calendars are for personal planning: confirm your official schedule, pay and overtime with your employer.