Shift workers on a Pitman rotation need to know at a glance who is working each day of the year. This Pitman shift calendar for 2027 lays out all 365 days on one landscape page. The bold navy title sits above a short description: 2-2-3 rotation, 12-hour shifts, crews A, B, C and D. A legend explains the colours: light blue for days when crew A works days and crew C works nights, and light orange for days when crew B works days and crew D works nights. The table lists months across the top and days 1 to 31 down the side, with each cell showing the weekday and the crews on duty.
What Is a Pitman Schedule
The Pitman schedule, also called the 2-2-3 schedule, is a popular 12-hour shift pattern used in police departments, hospitals, manufacturing plants, utilities, and emergency services. Each crew works two days on, two days off, three days on, then two off, two on, and three off, repeating every fourteen days. Over two weeks, each crew works seven shifts and has every other weekend off.
How the Crews Are Arranged
Four crews cover the 24-hour operation. Crews A and B alternate day shifts, while crews C and D alternate night shifts. In this calendar, crew C follows the same on days as crew A, and crew D follows crew B. The colour of each cell tells you which pair is on duty.
Reading the Shift Calendar
Find the month along the top and the date down the side. The cell shows the weekday abbreviation and either A/C or B/D. Light blue cells mean A and C are working, and light orange cells mean B and D are working. Greyed cells are dates that do not exist in that month.
The 2027 Rotation Start
This calendar starts the fourteen-day cycle on January 1, 2027, with crew A on day shift and crew C on nights. If your workplace’s rotation starts on a different day, the pattern can be shifted by editing the cells or regenerating the pattern from your own start date.
Benefits of the Pitman Rotation
Workers enjoy every other weekend off, including a three-day weekend, and only work seven days in any two weeks. The predictable pattern makes it easier to plan childcare, holidays, and family events well in advance.
Planning Life Around Shifts
Print a copy for home and highlight your crew’s days. Families can see which weekends are free, plan birthdays and holidays, and arrange childcare. Partners on different crews can quickly see days they are both off.
Shift Calendar for Supervisors
Supervisors and schedulers can post the calendar in break rooms and offices so everyone can check their days. It is also useful for planning training, maintenance, and leave requests around crew coverage.
Adding Holidays and Leave
Mark public holidays, overtime shifts, training days, and approved leave on the printed calendar with a pen or highlighter. A full year view helps spot when too many people from one crew are away.
Editing Crew Names
Rename the crews to match your workplace, such as Red, Blue, Green and Gold, or Team 1 to 4. Update the legend and the cell text in the editor before printing.
Navy, Blue and Orange Design
The navy title and headers keep the page professional, while the light blue and orange cells make the alternating pattern instantly visible. Change colours if your workplace uses specific crew colours.
Printing the Shift Calendar
Print in landscape on US Letter at actual size, or on A4 with Fit to page. For break room walls, enlarge it to tabloid or poster size so the small cells become easier to read.
Using the Calendar on Your Phone
Download a PNG and save it to your phone for a quick check of your schedule wherever you are. Zoom in on the month you need for easy reading.
Other Shift Patterns
If your workplace uses a different rotation, such as DuPont, 4 on 4 off, Panama, or a 24/48 schedule, the table layout still works. Edit the cell text and colours to match your pattern, or use our staff shift rota calendar for weekly scheduling.
Matching Work Templates
Pair the shift calendar with our employee leave calendar, staff rota calendar and week number calendar for complete workforce planning.
Saving the Shift Calendar Template
Save the calendar in your account. For 2028, continue the fourteen-day pattern from the last day of 2027 and update the year in the title.
Shift Calendar File Formats
Download a PDF for printing or an image for digital use. The table and colours stay aligned in every format.
Looking After Yourself on 12 Hour Shifts
Long shifts are demanding. Use your days off to rest, plan meals for work days, and keep a consistent sleep routine, especially when working nights. Marking rest days on the calendar helps protect them for recovery and family time.
Calculating Hours on a Pitman Schedule
Because each crew works seven 12-hour shifts every two weeks, the schedule averages 42 hours per week, often split as 36 hours one week and 48 the next. Many employers pay overtime for hours over 40 in a week, so understanding the pattern helps workers check their pay and plan budgets. Mark long and short weeks on the calendar if your pay periods follow the rotation.
Swapping Shifts With Colleagues
When you need a day off, the year view makes it easy to find a colleague on the opposite crew who is off that day and could swap. Note agreed swaps on your printed copy so you remember to work the exchanged shift.
Sleep Strategies for Night Crews
Crews C and D work nights, so blackout curtains, consistent sleep times and limiting caffeine late in the shift can make a real difference to rest and health.
Shift Calendars for Police, Fire and Healthcare
Police officers, firefighters, nurses and paramedics often work rotating shifts. A year view helps them request leave for important family events early and share their schedule with partners and children.
