What is a 2-2-3 shift pattern?
You work two days, have two off, work three, have two off, work two, then have three off. The 14-day cycle is common with 12-hour shifts in emergency services, manufacturing and other round-the-clock work.
The 14-day cycle
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Work | Work | Off | Off | Work | Work | Work |
| Week 2 | Off | Off | Work | Work | Off | Off | Off |
You work seven shifts every 14 days, which averages 3.5 a week. The longest run of work is three shifts and the longest break is three days. Because 14 is a multiple of seven, the pattern stays locked to the week: you work the same weekdays every fortnight, and you have one full Friday-to-Sunday weekend off every other week.
Set it up in the Dayzuntil shift planner
- Open the free shift planner and choose On a rotating cycle.
- Choose the first day of your first run of shifts as the start date.
- Use Add a cycle day until you have 14 cycle days, then set them in order: two shifts, two Off, three shifts, two Off, two shifts, three Off.
- Choose Save shift pattern to see the rota on a monthly calendar.
Plan around your days off
Add a partner's working days and nursery or school days as overlays to flag days that may need cover. See the childcare planner guide, or compare with the 4 on 4 off pattern.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week is a 2-2-3 pattern?
You work seven shifts every 14 days, so 3.5 shifts a week on average. With 12-hour shifts that is about 42 hours a week, though your contract and break rules decide the exact figure.
Is 2-2-3 the same as the Pitman schedule?
They are usually the same thing. The 2-2-3 pattern is commonly called the Pitman or Panama schedule, though some employers use slightly different names, so check your own rota.
Do you get every other weekend off on 2-2-3?
Yes. The 14-day cycle stays aligned with the week, so one weekend in two is a full Friday-to-Sunday break and the other weekend is mostly worked.