The roster
One row per team, one column per day of the cycle. The cycle then repeats.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team A | M | M | A | A | N | N | O | O |
| Team B | A | A | N | N | O | O | M | M |
| Team C | N | N | O | O | M | M | A | A |
| Team D | O | O | M | M | A | A | N | N |
Shifts per 8-day cycle
| Team | Days in the cycle |
|---|---|
| Team A | 2 morning, 2 afternoon, 2 night, 2 off |
| Team B | 2 morning, 2 afternoon, 2 night, 2 off |
| Team C | 2 morning, 2 afternoon, 2 night, 2 off |
| Team D | 2 morning, 2 afternoon, 2 night, 2 off |
How the 8 day cycle works
Set three 8 hour shifts: morning 6 am to 2 pm, afternoon 2 pm to 10 pm and night 10 pm to 6 am. Team A reads MMAANNOO: two mornings, two afternoons, two nights, two off. Teams B, C and D run the same string offset by two days each. On every date the four teams sit on the morning, afternoon, night and rest slots, so all three shifts are covered and one team is off. The two day blocks make the rota easy to learn, though the dates drift through the week, so weekends off move around.
- M is morning, 6 am to 2 pm.
- A is afternoon, 2 pm to 10 pm.
- N is night, 10 pm to 6 am.
- O is a rest day; rest comes in two day blocks.
Hours per week worked out
Each team works six shifts in the eight day cycle: two mornings, two afternoons and two nights. Six shifts of 8 hours is 48 hours over eight days. Eight days is about 1.14 weeks, so 48 hours works out to 42 hours a week on average. The eight hour shift matches the OSH Code ordinary day, so a normal cycle carries little overtime; only work called beyond the roster is paid at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. Short blocks keep the load even across the three shifts.
Who the pattern suits
This rota fits plants that want three shorter shifts, fast rotation and a simple cycle: light manufacturing, packaging, assembly and warehouses. The two day blocks limit fatigue and share mornings, afternoons and nights evenly. The eight day cycle is short enough to memorise. The cost is frequent shift changes and no fixed weekend, since the dates drift. Women may work the night block with their consent and the safety conditions the government sets. Allow a clear handover at each shift change so nothing is missed.
Pros
- Two day blocks keep fatigue low across three shifts.
- Fast rotation shares nights evenly.
- Eight hour shifts match the ordinary day.
- The eight day cycle is quick to learn.
- Average of 42 hours a week stays under 48.
Cons
- Frequent shift changes can disturb sleep.
- Dates drift, so no fixed weekend off.
- More handovers than a two shift plan.
- Short rest blocks give few long breaks.
Set it up in ZeniaHR
- In the shift catalogue add the morning, afternoon and night 8 hour shifts with code, timings, break, full and half day hours, grace, and the night flag with a colour.
- Build a rotation template with an eight day cycle of two mornings, two afternoons, two nights and two offs, and offset the four teams by two days.
- Assign in bulk over up to 92 days and use the live board filtered by shift to confirm all three shifts are staffed each day.
- Set attendance rules with grace at shift start and end so crews overlap for a clean handover at each change.
- Keep the overtime policy ready to count any hours beyond the eight hour roster at or above twice the ordinary rate.
- File night punches that cross midnight to the correct shift day and switch on the missed punch out alert for the night crew.
Run this roster in ZeniaHR
Build the rotation once, stagger it across teams and let attendance, overtime and payroll follow it. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
Why use four teams for three shifts?
Three shifts fill the 24 hours, but a fourth team is what lets one crew rest while the other three cover mornings, afternoons and nights. With only three teams no one could rest, pushing hours up. The fourth team keeps the average at 42 hours a week with regular days off.
How long is the 4-team 8-hour cycle?
The cycle is eight days: two mornings, two afternoons, two nights and two rest days, then it repeats. The four teams run the same string offset by two days, so all three shifts are covered daily and each team averages 42 hours a week.
Does this rota keep overtime low?
Yes, on a normal cycle. Each shift is exactly eight hours, matching the ordinary day, and a team averages 42 hours a week within the weekly limit. Only work called beyond the roster becomes overtime at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent.