How the Southern Swing schedule works
Each crew works 7 days, 2 off, 7 evenings, 2 off, 7 nights, then 3 off, a 28-day cycle. Four crews, one week apart, cover all three 8-hour shifts every day of the year.
It averages 42 hours a week (21 eight-hour shifts every four weeks). The rotation moves forward, from days to evenings to nights, which is generally easier on the body clock than rotating backward.
Compared with the continental schedule, which switches shifts every 2–3 days, the Southern Swing keeps you on the same shift for a full week, so you adjust once per block instead of constantly.
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
| Crew A | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | · | · | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | · | · | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | · | · | · |
| Crew B | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | · | · | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | · | · | N | N | N |
| Crew C | E | E | · | · | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | · | · | E | E | E | E | E |
| Crew D | · | · | E | E | E | E | E | E | E | · | · | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | · | · | · | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Southern Swing schedule at a glance
- Cycle length
- 28 days
- Shifts per year
- about 274
- Average hours per week
- 42
- Hours in a single week
- 32 to 56
- Weekends fully off per year
- about 13 of 52
- Longest break
- 3 days in a row
- Day shift (typical)
- 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Evening shift (typical)
- 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Night shift (typical)
- 11:00 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.
Pros and cons
What people like
- Shorter 8-hour shifts.
- A full week on each shift: fewer switches.
- Forward rotation.
- Everyone shares nights equally.
What's hard
- Seven shifts in a row each block.
- Breaks are only 2–3 days.
- A full week of nights every month.
- Few fully free weekends.
Who uses the Southern Swing schedule
Variations
- Southern Swing
- 7 days, 2 off, 7 evenings, 2 off, 7 nights, 3 off. This page's calendar.
- Fast rotation
- Prefer shorter blocks? See the continental schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Southern Swing schedule?
A rotating 8-hour schedule where four crews each work a week of day shifts, a week of evening (swing) shifts and a week of night shifts, with 2 or 3 days off between blocks, over a 28-day cycle.
How many hours is the Southern Swing?
An average of 42 hours a week, with single weeks between 32 and 56 hours.
What is a swing shift?
A swing shift is the evening shift between day and night, typically about 3 pm to 11 pm on an 8-hour schedule.
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.