Rotating shifts are schedules in which employees move through different shifts or days on a repeating cycle, so nights, weekends and holidays are shared instead of falling on the same people.
| Pattern | How it runs | Hours over 2 weeks (12-hour shifts) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 (Pitman) | 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, then 2 off, 2 on, 3 off | 84 |
| 4-on-4-off | 4 days on, 4 days off | Averages 42 a week; varies by week |
| DuPont | 4-week cycle mixing nights and days, with a 7-day break | Averages 42 a week |
| Weekly rotation (8-hour) | A week of days, then evenings, then nights | 80 |
For detail on specific patterns see the Pitman schedule, DuPont schedule and rotating schedule guides.
To build shifts, approve swaps and spot coverage gaps in one place, see EZTime employee scheduling software.
Federal overtime is owed for hours over 40 in each workweek, and the workweek is a fixed, recurring 7-day period the employer sets. On a 2-2-3 rotation, one employee works 84 hours every two weeks. How those hours fall into workweeks depends on the day the workweek starts.
If the workweek starts on Monday, the employee works 60 hours in week one and 24 in week two: 20 overtime hours every two weeks. If it starts on Tuesday, the same shifts split 48 and 36: 8 overtime hours. At $22 an hour, the overtime premium alone (the extra half-time) is $220 versus $88 for each employee every two weeks. Choose the workweek when you design a new rotation; changing an existing workweek to cut overtime is a different matter, so ask a payroll adviser first.
| Workweek starts | Week 1 hours | Week 2 hours | Overtime hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 60 | 24 | 20 |
| Tuesday | 48 | 36 | 8 |
| Wednesday | 36 | 48 | 8 |
The direction and speed of a rotation affect how hard it is. Many schedulers prefer forward rotation, moving from days to evenings to nights, because it follows the natural tendency to stay up later. Give enough rest when switching from nights back to days, and avoid single night shifts sandwiched between day shifts.
Let people trade within the pattern. Swaps between qualified coworkers, with approval and a check on hours, let employees solve personal conflicts without breaking coverage. Ask the team every few months which parts of the rotation are hardest, and adjust the pattern where you can.
A security company runs a weekly rotation of days, evenings and nights for 18 guards. Turnover is high, and exit interviews mention the night week.
The company asks who would prefer fixed nights with a differential: 5 guards volunteer. The other 13 rotate between days and evenings only. Night coverage improves because the fixed night guards know the sites at night, and turnover falls over the next two quarters.
A 2-2-3 pattern on 12-hour shifts, where employees work 2 days, rest 2, work 3, then rest 2, work 2, rest 3, and the cycle repeats.
Changing between day and night work disrupts sleep for many people. Slower rotations, enough rest at each switch and predictable cycles help. See night shift sleep schedule.
Yes, if hours in a workweek exceed 40 for non-exempt employees, plus any state daily overtime. Long-shift rotations often produce overtime in alternate weeks.
On fixed shifts, people work the same hours every week. On rotating shifts, they cycle through different shifts or days. See fixed schedule.
Start from the coverage needed each hour, then compare patterns for total hours, overtime weeks, rest days and what the team prefers.
Often yes, with approval, the right qualifications and a check that the swap does not create unplanned overtime.
Shift swaps, open shifts and time off requests live next to the schedule, with labor rule alerts before overtime adds up.