Pitman Schedule — Free Calendar Generator & Template

How the Pitman schedule works

The Pitman schedule (also called 2-2-3 or Panama) repeats every 14 days: work 2 days, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. Each crew works 7 of 14 days on 12-hour shifts, averaging 42 hours a week, and never works more than three days in a row. Four crews—two on days and two on nights—offset by a week keep the site covered 24/7.

Who uses the Pitman schedule

Common in police and fire dispatch, hospitals and nursing, manufacturing plants, power and utilities, security teams, and call centres that must stay staffed 24/7. The Pitman pattern is popular because it balances continuous coverage with manageable work blocks and regular long weekends.

Set up a Pitman calendar with the right reference date

The first step is choosing the correct reference date. Pick a date on which you know exactly which crew works a day shift, which crew works a night shift, and which crews are off. Record that date in the published rota. Every future Pitman calendar depends on the same anchor; if it is wrong, the pattern may still look neat while assigning every crew to the wrong block.

Build a separate coverage note for the roles that cannot be left to chance. A plant may need an authorised operator and a maintenance contact on every shift; a dispatch team may need a supervisor. Check those role requirements across both weeks of the cycle, including the three-shift run. Assign relief and leave as named exceptions instead of quietly changing the base rotation, so the recurring pattern stays understandable.

When a team changes from another pattern, publish at least one full cycle in advance and explain the transition date. The Pitman schedule is easy to follow once it is established, but a mid-cycle switch causes confusion about which of the two 36- or 48-hour weeks applies. Keep a version date on the schedule and a single place where approved swaps are recorded.

Implementation checklist

• The calendar identifies its confirmed reference date and crew assignment.
• Required roles are checked across both weeks, not only the first seven days.
• Leave and swaps are marked as exceptions with an owner.
• The team has one current version of the calendar.