The DuPont shift schedule explained

The roster

One row per team, one column per day of the cycle. The cycle then repeats.

Shifts per 28-day cycle

How the 28 day cycle works

Run two 12 hour shifts: day from 7 am to 7 pm and night from 7 pm to 7 am. Team A reads NNNNOOODDDONNNOOODDDDOOOOOOO across the 28 days: four nights, three off, three days, one off, three nights, three off, four days, then seven off. Teams B, C and D follow the same string but start seven, fourteen and twenty one days later. Because the teams are evenly offset, one team is always on the day shift and one on the night shift, with two teams resting. The famous seven day break falls at a different point for each team, so the plant never loses cover.

• D is the day shift, 7 am to 7 pm.
• N is the night shift, 7 pm to 7 am.
• O is a rest day; each team gets a seven day block once a cycle.
• Four teams are offset by seven days each.

Hours per week worked out

Each team works 14 shifts in the 28 day cycle: four nights, three days, three nights and four days. Fourteen shifts of 12 hours is 168 hours over four weeks, which is 42 hours a week on average. As with any 12 hour rota, hours past the eight hour ordinary day are overtime at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent, so confirm how your state treats the longer shift and set the overtime multipliers to match. The seven day break means the busy weeks feel heavier than the 42 hour average suggests.

Who the pattern suits

DuPont works for continuous process plants, refineries and large security operations where a long, predictable block of rest matters more than an even week. The seven day break lets staff travel home or handle family duties without taking leave. The trade off is a run of up to four shifts and some quick turns between night and day blocks, which not everyone tolerates well. Women may work the night line with their consent and the safety conditions the government sets. Plan the changeover so no one does a night then a day within 24 hours.

Pros

• Each team gets a full seven day break every 28 days.
• Only four teams cover a round the clock plant.
• Average of 42 hours a week stays under a 48 hour ceiling.
• Long rest block lets staff travel without using leave.

Cons

• Runs of up to four 12 hour shifts are demanding.
• The quick turn from nights to days strains sleep.
• The 28 day cycle is harder to memorise than a fortnight.
• Extra hours beyond eight a day add to the overtime bill.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the 12 hour day and night shifts with code, timings, break, full day and half day hours, grace, and the night shift flag with a colour.
2. Create a rotation template with a 28 day cycle, enter the four night, three day, three night, four day blocks with their rests, and offset the four teams by seven days each.
3. Assign the template in bulk over up to 92 days and open the day grid to confirm one day team and one night team appear on every date.
4. Set the overtime policy to count hours beyond full day hours and keep the working day, weekly off and holiday multipliers at or above twice the ordinary rate.
5. Switch on the missed punch out alert 60 minutes after shift end and file night punches that cross midnight to the correct shift day.
6. Feed the holiday calendar for the branch so festival days flow into attendance and the payroll month for staff on this rota.

Frequently asked questions