How the Pitman shift pattern works

The roster

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

Shifts per 14-day cycle

How the 14 day cycle works

Set a day shift from 6 am to 6 pm and a night shift from 6 pm to 6 am. Team A reads DDDOODDOOODDOO across the fortnight: three on, two off, two on, three off, two on, two off. Team B runs the same rhythm a week apart, so the day shift is always filled. Teams C and D do the same on nights. Because teams stay on one shift, staff keep a steady sleep pattern, and the three off, two off blocks put a full weekend free every second week. It is a fixed shift cousin of the 2-2-3 Panama rota.

• D is the day shift, 6 am to 6 pm.
• N is the night shift, 6 pm to 6 am.
• O is a rest day.
• Teams stay fixed on days or nights for a steady body clock.

Hours per week worked out

Each team works seven 12 hour shifts in the 14 day cycle, which is 84 hours over two weeks, or 42 hours a week on average. The maths matches the 2-2-3 rota; only the order of the work and rest blocks differs. As with all 12 hour rotas, hours beyond the eight hour ordinary day are overtime at twice the ordinary wage rate with consent. Check your state notification on daily and weekly limits and set your overtime rates before you begin.

Who the pattern suits

Pitman suits teams that value a fixed shift and a reliable weekend rhythm: police, fire and ambulance services, control rooms and security. Keeping people on days or nights protects sleep better than fast rotation. The every other weekend off is easy to explain to families. The downside is that a fixed night crew carries the night load permanently, which needs fair pay and regular health checks. Women may work a night post with their consent and the safety conditions the government sets. Review night crews often so the load does not sit with the same people for years.

Pros

• Every other weekend is completely free.
• Fixed day or night crews keep a steady body clock.
• Only four teams cover a round the clock operation.
• The 14 day cycle is short and simple to follow.
• Average of 42 hours a week stays under 48.

Cons

• A fixed night crew carries the night load for good.
• Twelve hour shifts remain long and tiring.
• Swapping between day and night crews needs planning.
• Night hours beyond eight a day add overtime cost.

Set it up in ZeniaHR

1. In the shift catalogue add the 6 to 6 day and night shifts with code, timings, break, full and half day hours, grace, and the night flag with a colour.
2. Create a rotation template with a 14 day cycle holding the three on, two off, two on rhythm, and keep the four teams fixed on days or nights offset by a week.
3. Assign in bulk over up to 92 days, then open the per employee roster so each person sees a free weekend every second week.
4. Set the overtime policy to count hours beyond full day hours with multipliers at or above twice the ordinary rate, and a monthly cap if you want one.
5. Use the annual health check reminder practice for permanent night crews and record it against each employee in their documents.
6. Let staff use shift swaps to trade between the day and night crews; the change lands only after the manager and then HR approve.

Frequently asked questions