How the Pitman schedule works
The 2-2-3 rhythm means: work 2, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. Over two weeks you work 7 shifts of 12 hours – one "short" week with two shifts and one "long" week with five. Four teams (A, B, C, D) rotate so that the operation runs around the clock.
| Week | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| long | work | work | off | off | work | work | work |
| short | off | off | work | work | off | off | off |
In this version you do two weeks of day shifts (e.g. 6 am – 6 pm), then two weeks of nights (6 pm – 6 am); the full cycle is 28 days. That averages 42 hours per week – under the US Fair Labor Standards Act the long week usually means 4 hours of overtime for hourly workers, depending on how your employer defines the work week.
Pitman schedule 2027 by the numbers
Example for an operation where team A starts its long day-shift week on Monday, January 4, 2027:
| Team | Shifts in 2027 | of which nights | Hours | Free weekends | New Year's Day | Memorial Day | July 4 | Labor Day | Thanksgiving | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day | New Year's Eve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 182 | 91 | 2,184 | 26 | off | off | off | off | off | night | night | off |
| B | 183 | 92 | 2,196 | 26 | night | day | day | night | day | off | off | night |
| C | 182 | 91 | 2,184 | 26 | off | off | off | off | off | day | day | off |
| D | 183 | 91 | 2,196 | 26 | day | night | night | day | night | off | off | day |
A free weekend here means Saturday and Sunday with no shift and no night shift from Friday into Saturday. If your cycle starts on a different day, the table shifts – the easiest fix is to set up your own calendar.
Set up your own Pitman calendar
- Open the 2-2-3 Pitman calendar and choose Use this pattern.
- Pick your team and the date of your next first day shift.
- You get the whole year on one printable letter or A4 page. Save it and add it to your phone – the shifts then show up in Google, Apple or Outlook Calendar.
With All teams – who is on duty you see in one calendar which team works each day – handy for supervisors and the break-room board.
Pitman vs. other 12-hour schedules
The Pitman schedule has the same hours as DuPont, 2-2-2 or 4-on-4-off, but the rhythm feels very different – compare them in shift patterns compared. For nights in detail see night shifts per year, and for vacation tips holiday planning in shift work: on a Pitman schedule, two vacation days in the short week give you a full week off.
FAQ
What is a Pitman schedule?
A 12-hour 2-2-3 rotation: weeks with two and five shifts alternate, and every other weekend is off. Over two weeks you work 7 shifts, i.e. 84 hours.
How many hours a year is a Pitman schedule?
In 2027, 182 or 183 shifts, i.e. 2,184 to 2,196 hours before vacation and holidays – an average of 42 hours per week.
Can I put my Pitman schedule on my phone?
Yes. Save the calendar on MyTurnus and add it with the Add to phone button. Shifts appear in Google, Apple or Outlook Calendar and update themselves.