Pitman schedule

A Pitman schedule is a 14-day shift rotation built on a 2-2-3 cycle, giving each team member 7 working days per fortnight with a recurring 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.

How the Pitman schedule works in practice

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.

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 in the rotation, managers can post it for team members to claim without coordinating manually. Zelos offers a free account option for teams that want to try it before committing.