The 2-2-3 work schedule, also called the Panama schedule, is a 28-day rotational cycle in which each employee works in 12-hour shifts (day/night). The 2-2-3 work schedule usually involves 4 teams that work 2 days, then get 2 rest days, followed by 3 days of work. This pattern is repeated every week, but the second week starts with 2 days off, followed by 2 workdays, and then 3 days off, and so on. Typically, a month consists of 14 12-hour shifts.
The 2-2-3 work schedule is commonly used in industries that require continuous operations and coverage, such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and customer service. These industries often need to ensure that they have employees available at all times to meet the demands of their customers or maintain operational efficiency. By implementing the 2-2-3 schedule, they can have a rotating workforce that provides coverage for all shifts, including weekends and holidays.
2-2-3 vs Panama Schedule
The 2-2-3 schedule rotates between day and night shifts every 14 days, whereas a Panama schedule rotates between day and night shifts every 28 days.
Example of a 28 day 2-2-3 work schedule
D = Day shift N = Night shift O = Day Off
Week 1 - 4 / day 1 - 28
Team 1: DDOODDD-OODDOOO-NNOONNN-OONNOOO
Team 2: NNOONNN-OONNOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO
Team 3: OONNOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO-NNOONNN
Team 4: OODDOOO-NNOONNN-OONNOOO-DDOODDD
Example of a 56 day Panama work schedule
D = Day shift N = Night shift O = Day Off
Week 1 - 4 / day 1 - 28
Team 1: DDOODDD-OODDOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO
Team 2: NNOONNN-OONNOOO-NNOONNN-OONNOOO
Team 3: OODDOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO-DDOODDD
Team 4: OONNOOO-NNOONNN-OONNOOO-NNOONNN
Week 5 - 8 / day 29 - 56
Team 1: NNOONNN-OONNOOO-NNOONNN-OONNOOO
Team 2: DDOODDD-OODDOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO
Team 3: OONNOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO-NNOONNN
Team 4: OODDOOO-DDOODDD-OODDOOO-DDOODDD
Variations of the 2-2-3 work schedule
Apart from the 2-2-3 work pattern, there are several other popular work schedules, including the Pitman schedule, the DuPont schedule, and the DDNNOO schedule.
Pitman Schedule
The Pitman shift schedule involves 4 teams working 12 hour shifts, working in a 2-3-2 pattern.
There are two versions of the Pitman schedule:
Version 1: Fixed Pitman schedule — the first team will always work during the day and the second team will work at night.
Version 2: Rotating Pitman schedule — teams rotate so that during one cycle one team works the day shift, and during the next cycle the same team works at night.
The DuPont Schedule
Another work pattern is the DuPont schedule, which involves a four-week cycle and consists of four different schedules:
Week 1: Work four night shifts, and then three days off.
Week 2: Work three day shifts, then one day off, followed by three night shifts.
Week 3: Three days off, then work four-day shifts.
Week 4: Seven days off.
The DDNNOO schedule
In this six-day cycle, each team works two 12-hour day shifts and two 12-hour night shifts and can be covered by three teams alternating between:
Working two days,
Working two nights, and
Two days off.
Conclusion
The 2-2-3 or Panama work schedule has gained popularity as an efficient shift pattern, particularly for businesses needing round-the-clock coverage to maintain operational efficiency or meet customer needs.
