How many days off for how many shifts
| Pattern | Shifts of leave | Hours of leave | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 on 4 off (2 days, 2 nights, 4 off) | 4 | 48 h | 12 |
| 4 days, 4 nights, 4 off each | 4 | 48 h | 12 |
| Day, night, 2 off | 4 | 48 h | 10 |
| Pitman 2-2-3 | 4 | 48 h | 11 |
| DuPont | 4 | 48 h | 14 |
| Continental (5 teams) | 6 | 48 h | 14 |
| Weekly rotation (Mon–Fri) | 5 | 40 h | 9 |
| 24/48 | 4 | 96 h | 14 |
How it works: the leave covers one whole work block and joins the rest days before and after it. Two blocks in a row give even more – on 4 on 4 off, 8 shifts give 20 days.
Things to watch
- Leave in hours. On 12-hour shifts, leave is often counted in hours, so one shift uses 12 hours rather than one day. Check how your employer counts it.
- Whole blocks. On continental rotas, take the whole run of earlies, lates and nights at once; shorter gaps barely extend your time off.
- Shift swaps. If you're one shift short of a long break, swapping with a colleague is often cheaper than a day of leave.
- Bank holidays. A bank holiday that falls on a rest day adds nothing – plan around your rota, not the normal calendar.
Planning in the calendar
On MyTurnus you set your pattern and team, and the year calendar shows straight away where rest days can be joined up. Add leave as an exception and the calendar on your phone shows it instead of shifts. Free weekends per pattern are compared in shift patterns compared.
FAQ
How much leave do I need for two weeks off?
On DuPont, continental and 24/48 rotas, one work block is enough (4 twelve-hour shifts, 6 eight-hour shifts or 4 duties). On 4 on 4 off, 4 shifts give you 12 days.
When should I book leave on shifts?
So that it covers a whole block of shifts between two rest blocks. Leave in the middle of a block joins nothing up and only adds that one day.
Does this work for every employer?
It's an example for common patterns. Your rota may start on a different day or include extra rest days, so set it up with your own start date.