If you run a 24/7 operation with 12-hour shifts, you’ll almost certainly end up choosing between three rotations: Pitman (2-2-3), DuPont and 4 on 4 off. All three use four crews so that one crew is always on days and another on nights. They differ in how work and days off are arranged.
At a glance
| Pitman (2-2-3) | DuPont | 4 on 4 off | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle | 14 days | 28 days | 8 days |
| Pattern | 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off | 4N, 3 off, 3D, 1 off, 3N, 3 off, 4D, 7 off | 4 on, 4 off |
| Days and nights | Fixed crews (A/B days, C/D nights) | Every crew works both | Fixed crews (A/B days, C/D nights) |
| Longest break | 3 days | 7 days | 4 days |
| Weekends off | Every other weekend (3 days) | Varies | Moves through the week |
| Average hours | ~42 per week | ~42 per week | ~42 per week |
Pitman (2-2-3)
Each crew works 2 days, takes 2 off, works 3, takes 2 off, works 2 and takes 3 off. Because the cycle is two weeks long, every other weekend is a three-day weekend, which is why it’s so popular in hospitals, police departments and security. Workweeks alternate between 36 and 48 hours, so expect overtime every other week. Build a Pitman schedule.
DuPont
A four-week cycle: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days and then 7 days off in a row. Every crew works both days and nights, so night work is shared evenly. The trade-off is that some weeks are tough, with long stretches and quick switches between nights and days. Build a DuPont schedule.
4 on 4 off
The simplest to explain: four 12-hour shifts, then four days off, every 8 days. Because the cycle doesn’t match the week, the days you work move forward by one weekday each cycle. Long, predictable breaks make it a favorite in security and manufacturing. Build a 4 on 4 off schedule.
How to choose
- Want every other weekend off? Go with Pitman.
- Want a full week off every month and to share nights evenly? Go with DuPont.
- Want the simplest pattern with long breaks? Go with 4 on 4 off.
All three average about 42 hours a week, so plan for some overtime above 40 hours. The free schedule maker shows each person’s overtime per week and keeps the rotation going from one month to the next.