Pitman schedule

A Pitman schedule is a name for the 2-2-3 shift rotation, used mainly in emergency services, where team members work 7 days per fortnight with a three-day break every other week.

The pattern runs: 2 days on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. Because it repeats on a fixed two-week cycle, people know their schedule far in advance. It’s a common choice in healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency services where 24/7 coverage is the baseline requirement.

Pitman and Panama are two names for the same 2-2-3 rotation. For the general explanation of the pattern, see the Panama schedule; this page covers what’s specific to the Pitman setup.

How many teams does a Pitman schedule need?

For a single team covering one shift type, the two-week block looks like this:

Week 1: D D - - D D D
Week 2: - - D D - - -

(D = working day, - = day off)

One team can only cover one shift type on its own. To run continuous day and night coverage, you need at least two teams. Four-team setups are standard when organisations need round-the-clock coverage with no gaps.

Common variations

• Fixed shift Pitman: Teams stay permanently on days or nights with no rotation between them.
• Modified Pitman: Start and end times are adjusted to fit specific operational windows.
• Extended Pitman: Extra coverage is added during peak periods while keeping the base 2-2-3 pattern intact.

Pitman vs Panama schedule

The Pitman and Panama schedules describe the same underlying 2-2-3 rotation, and the terms are often used interchangeably. The difference is mostly in naming and convention: “Panama” is the more common term in manufacturing and industrial settings, while “Pitman” is used more in policing and emergency services. Where you’ll see real variation is in the details each field layers on top: fixed versus rotating shifts, and adjusted start times, rather than in the core pattern itself.

Benefits of the Pitman schedule

For team members, predictability is the main advantage. The 14-day cycle repeats without variation, so personal planning is straightforward. The three-day break every other week also gives people enough time to recover, which matters more when shifts include nights or long hours.

For managers, the fixed rotation makes coverage gaps visible early. Staffing levels stay consistent across the cycle without constant manual adjustments to the roster.

How Zelos helps

Zelos works alongside existing Pitman rosters as a simple way to handle shift swaps and open shift signups. When a gap appears, managers post it for team members to claim without coordinating manually.