What is the Pitman schedule?

The Pitman schedule (also called 2-3-2) is a 14-day rotating shift pattern using two crews. Each crew works 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off — alternating between day and night shifts across a 28-day super-cycle. Workers average 42 hours per week on 12-hour shifts.

Is the Pitman schedule the same as Panama?

They are similar but different. Both use 2 on / 3 on blocks and cover 24/7 with two crews. The difference is in the rest periods: Pitman uses a 2-2-3-2-2-3 sequence (two days off, then three days off), while Panama uses a 2-2-3 sequence with a different day/night structure. Pitman gives you a three-day weekend every other cycle.

Can ShiftFlowr handle the Pitman schedule?

Yes. ShiftFlowr keeps the fixed 14-day Pitman option and also provides a 28-day rotating option that swaps Day and Night blocks after each fortnight. Use the custom builder for employer-specific variants.

Pitman 2-3-2 shift schedule

Build your Pitman rota once.
Apply it for months in seconds.

ShiftFlowr has a built-in Pitman schedule preset. Set your anchor date, pick your shift type, preview the 14-day cycle, and fill as many months ahead as you need.

Get it on Google Play See all features

Free on Android · Early access

What is it?

How the Pitman 2-3-2 schedule works

The Pitman schedule (also known as 2-3-2) is a 14-day rotating pattern that gives workers a three-day break every other cycle. Two crews alternate between day and night shifts across a 28-day super-cycle.

The defining feature of Pitman is its rest structure: within the 14-day cycle, you get two separate rest periods — a two-day break and a three-day break. The three-day break often falls on a weekend, giving you a long weekend every fortnight.

The 14-day sequence

D D off off D D D off off N N off off off

Choose Fixed Shift to repeat one shift type over the 14-day work/off cycle. Choose Rotating Day/Night to use Day shifts for one fortnight and Night shifts for the next, completing a 28-day cycle.

Pitman vs Panama

What's the difference?

People often confuse Pitman and Panama since both use two crews and 2/3-day work blocks. Here's how they compare:

Pitman (2-3-2)

Panama (2-2-3)

14-day base cycle

2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off

2 on, 2 off, 3 on — alternates days/nights

3-day break typically falls on a weekend

Every other full weekend off

Common in law enforcement, public safety

Common in emergency services, nursing

ShiftFlowr has presets for both — switch easily in the pattern library.

Who uses it?

Common industries and roles

👮 Law enforcement

Police forces and custody suites use Pitman scheduling for its predictable long-weekend structure, which helps with officer wellbeing and retention.

🏭 Manufacturing

Continuous production factories that need 24/7 cover with better rest structure than straight 4-on-4-off often use Pitman.

🏢 Public services

Local authority services, transport operations, and utilities with 24/7 cover requirements use Pitman's predictable rest periods for staff planning.

🔒 Security operations

Some control room and security operations centres use Pitman for its two distinct rest blocks, which suit day/night operation patterns.

See it done

Your Pitman rota, set up in the app — about 20 seconds

ShiftFlowr preset library with the Pitman 2-3-2 pattern selected — **1 · Pick the preset.** Pitman 2-3-2 is built in — the pattern bar shows the 14-day cycle with its three-day break.

Configuring the Pitman pattern: shift type, times and anchor date with a cycle preview — **2 · Set your anchor.** Pick your shift type and times, enter the date your 14-day cycle started, and preview every day before committing.

A month view filled with the applied Pitman 2-3-2 shifts — **3 · Apply.** The month fills itself — existing shifts are never touched, and every shift gets its reminders and wake-up alarm automatically.

That's the whole job — next month is one tap. And the alarm rings through silent mode until you're up, so the rota you built actually gets you to work.

Common questions

Pitman schedule FAQ

How many hours is the Pitman schedule per week?: On 12-hour shifts, Pitman averages 42 hours per week — the same as 4-on-4-off and Panama. You work 21 shifts over the 28-day super-cycle.
Do I always get a three-day weekend?: Every other 14-day cycle ends with a three-day rest block. Whether it falls on a weekend depends on your start date and where your crew is in the cycle. ShiftFlowr shows you exactly which dates are rest days before you apply.
Can I see my Pitman rota 3 months ahead?: Yes. Apply the pattern to as many months as you want and scroll forward on the calendar. You'll see every shift and rest day in advance.
I'm not sure if my schedule is Pitman or Panama. How do I check?: Count your work and rest blocks over two weeks. If you see a 2-2-3-2-2-3 pattern (two on, two off, three on, two off, two on, three off), that's Pitman. If you see 2-2-3 repeating with a day/night flip, that's Panama.

Stop re-entering your Pitman rota every month.

ShiftFlowr builds the 14-day cycle once and fills months ahead automatically — including every three-day break.

Get it on Google Play