Every pattern is drawn as a roster grid, one row per team and one column per day, so you can see coverage, weekly offs and night runs at a glance. Each page works out the hours per week, lists the pros and cons, and shows how to build the rotation in ZeniaHR.
12-hour day and night rotationThis is a fast 12 hour rotation on a short eight day cycle.2-2-3 shift pattern (Panama schedule)The 2-2-3 pattern, often called the Panama schedule, keeps a plant running day and night with four teams on 12 hour shifts.24 on 48 off shift patternThe 24 on 48 off pattern has staff work a full 24 hour shift, then rest for 48 hours.3-team 12-hour rotationThe three team, 12 hour rotation covers a round the clock operation with only three crews.4 on 4 off shift patternThe 4 on 4 off pattern gives long blocks of work and long blocks of rest.4-team 8-hour rotationThis is the simplest way to run three 8 hour shifts around the clock with fast rotation.4x10 compressed work scheduleThe 4x10 compressed schedule fits the working week into four longer days of 10 hours, giving a three day weekend every week.5 on 2 off scheduleFive days on and two days off is the schedule most office and service staff know.6-day week with Sunday offThe six day week with Sunday off is the classic Indian pattern: work Monday to Saturday, rest on Sunday.6-day week with rotating weekly offMany Indian shops, factories and service teams run six days a week and give each employee one weekly off.Alternate Saturday offAlternate Saturday off means staff rest on every other Saturday, along with every Sunday.BPO rotational shift patternCall centres and back offices serving global clients run around the clock, so agents rotate through morning, afternoon and night shifts.Continental shift patternThe Continental pattern is a fast rotating, four team, three shift rota on 8 hour shifts over a 28 day cycle.DuPont shift patternThe DuPont pattern is a four team, 12 hour rota on a 28 day cycle, known for the full seven day break it gives each team once a month.Fixed night shiftA fixed night shift keeps a crew on nights permanently instead of rotating them through days.Hospital nursing roster (morning, evening, night)Wards need cover every hour, so nursing rosters run three 8 hour shifts, morning, evening and night, with teams rotating through them.On-call rotationOn-call, or standby, duty covers problems that arise outside normal hours without keeping a full night crew.Pitman shift patternThe Pitman pattern, also called 2-3-2, is a 14 day, four team, 12 hour rota built around every other weekend off.Retail store shift patternShops open long hours and trade every day, so retail rosters use overlapping opening and closing shifts rather than one common time.Second and fourth Saturday offBanks and many offices give staff every Sunday off plus the second and fourth Saturday of each month, while the first and third Saturdays are working days.Split shift scheduleA split shift breaks the working day into two blocks with a long unpaid gap in the middle.Staggered shiftsStaggered shifts give teams different start and finish times instead of one common hour.Three-shift 8-hour rotationThe three shift system splits the day into three 8 hour shifts, morning, afternoon and night, and rotates teams through them.Two-shift rotation (morning and evening)A two shift rotation covers a long working day, not the full night, with a morning shift and an evening shift.Weekend shift patternA weekend shift pattern uses a dedicated crew to cover Saturday and Sunday, so the main weekday team keeps its weekend off.Weekly rotating shiftA weekly rotating shift keeps a team on one shift for a whole week before it changes, which is gentler on the body clock than daily rotation.
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