2-2-3 Shift Schedule: 14-Day Pattern and Calendar

The numbers describe blocks of work days and days off. They do not mean “two days, two nights, three days.” Read from Day 1 of the cycle, the sequence is:

2 work → 2 off → 3 work → 2 off → 2 work → 3 off

That creates a two-week rhythm with seven work days and seven days off. Day 15 returns to the same place as Day 1.

If every shift lasts 12 hours, the arithmetic is 7 shifts × 12 hours = 84 scheduled hours across 14 days. That is an average of 42 scheduled hours per week across the complete cycle. Actual pay periods, overtime rules, breaks, and contracted hours can differ.

A 14-day 2-2-3 example

This example starts on a Monday. “Work” only means scheduled to work; it does not decide whether the shift is a day or night shift.

Day	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Week 1	Work	Work	Off	Off	Work	Work	Work
Week 2	Off	Off	Work	Work	Off	Off	Off

After Sunday of week two, the sequence begins again. Because the pattern covers exactly 14 days, the same work/off positions return on the same weekdays.

Why the pattern can still feel confusing

The work-and-rest rhythm is simple once it is visible, but an employer may add another layer by rotating teams between days and nights. For example, one team can work the 14-day sequence on days while another covers nights, then switch later according to the employer’s roster. That longer arrangement is why some workplaces describe the complete roster as a 28-day cycle even though one person’s underlying on/off sequence repeats after 14 days.

Names are not perfectly consistent. 2-2-3 can describe the work/off sequence on this page. Panama and Pitman are also used for related continuous-coverage arrangements, but employers may use those names differently. A query such as “3-2-2-3” may describe the same 14-day blocks from a different starting point—or a different roster entirely. Treat the name as a clue, then confirm the exact sequence, anchor date, shift times, team, and day/night changes on your real roster.

For a documented example of that distinction, TimeTec’s four-team schedule reference repeats the 14-day work/off sequence first on days and then on nights, making a 28-day assignment. That is one implementation, not a rule for every employer.

What to confirm before putting it in a calendar

1. The first day of your cycle. Starting from the wrong “work 2” block shifts every future date.
2. Your shift times. Record the real start and end times, including overnight shifts that finish the next morning.
3. When days and nights change. Do not assume the rotation changes every two weeks unless your roster says so.
4. Your crew or team. Different teams can follow the same pattern at different points in the cycle.
5. Exceptions. Training, overtime, leave, swaps, and holidays may override the base rotation.

A practical way to track it on iPhone

Instead of entering every shift separately, create the day or night shift types you actually work, arrange the 14-day sequence once, and let the calendar repeat it forward. Keep one-off changes separate from the underlying rotation so a single swap does not rebuild the entire schedule.

A note about long and rotating shifts

A calendar can make a roster easier to understand, but it cannot decide whether a schedule is safe for a particular workplace or person. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety explains that shift length, rotation direction, rest, workload, and individual circumstances all matter. The UK Health and Safety Executive also recommends assessing long shifts and allowing adequate recovery. Follow your employer’s confirmed roster and applicable workplace guidance.