What Is a 2-2-3 Schedule and How Does It Work?

The 2-2-3 schedule (or Panama schedule) is an employment practice that has provided around-the-clock service since the early 1900s. To this day, industrial and manufacturing companies employ this tactic to stay staffed 24/7.

With a 2-2-3 work schedule, employees work two or three consecutive shifts with two or three days off throughout a four-week cycle.

This type of work schedule includes early-morning shifts and shifts that occur late into the night. However, it also rewards employees with more consecutive days off than usual to help their bodies adjust to these drastically different shifts.

If you're thinking about using the 2-2-3 schedule, let's examine its structure, advantages and disadvantages, and the tools you can use to implement it effectively for your business.

The 2-2-3 schedule runs on a 14-day cycle, typically using 12-hour shifts. Employees work:

1. 2 days on

2. 2 days off

3. 3 days on

And then, for the next week:

1. 2 days off

2. 2 days on

3. 3 days off

This rotation means each team works every other weekend and has several consecutive days off built in. It's designed to support 24/7 staffing with four rotating teams covering all shifts.

Here’s an example of a two-week cycle with day and night shifts:

The 2-2-3 schedule is common in industries that need staff on hand around the clock, seven days a week, like:

• Healthcare

• Manufacturing

• Emergency Services

• Security

• Utilities

Businesses often adopt this model to strike a balance between operational demands and employee well-being. It supports:

• 24/7 coverage without relying on constant over time

• Fair, predictable scheduling that’s easier for employees to manage

• Streamlined workforce management, especially when paired with scheduling software that automates rotations and shift assignments

This mix of reliability and flexibility makes it a practical choice for both high-pressure environments and essential services where downtime isn’t an option.

While the standard 2-2-3 schedule is widely used, several variations build on its structure to better suit different staffing needs and operational demands.

Here are its popular alternatives: 

• Panama Plus. Panama Plus adds extra off days or customized rotations depending on workload. It’s ideal for teams needing more rest or for roles with high mental or physical demands.
  
  

• Pitman shift. The Pitman schedule follows the same 2-2-3 rhythm but typically keeps employees on fixed day or night shifts instead of rotating. This can help reduce fatigue from shift changes, especially in high-stress environments.
  
  

• DDNNOO. This model involves two days, two nights, and two days off and repeats continuously. It's compact and predictable, but switching from day to night work can be challenging for some workers.
  
  

• DuPont. DuPont cycles through a complex 4-week rotation with 12-hour shifts and includes a full 7-day break. While it’s harder to manage, the extended rest period can significantly improve recovery and morale.

Here’s a table to help you compare them side-by-side.

The 2-2-3 shift schedule offers a unique balance that benefits both employees and employers. Its consistent rhythm and built-in time off make it one of the most worker-friendly options for around-the-clock operations.

Advantages for employees

• Predictable time off. The fixed pattern gives workers regular, repeating days off (including every other weekend), making planning personal time and commitments easier.
  
  

• Improved work-life balance. Employees get extended breaks throughout the cycle to help them recharge between work stretches without wasting vacation days.
  
  

• Reduced burnout. With no more than three consecutive workdays at a time, the schedule reduces physical and mental fatigue compared to more demanding patterns like 5-day workweeks or swing shifts.
  
  

• Increased performance. Well-rested workers are more likely to stay focused and engaged during long shifts, which can lead to better employee productivity.

Advantages for employers

• 24/7 coverage. The structure allows for full, continuous staffing with just four teams. This is ideal for essential services and facilities that never shut down.
  
  

• Continuous operation with fewer interruptions. Rotating shifts minimize the risk of staffing gaps while avoiding the pitfalls of excessive overtime or burnout.
  
  

• Increased productivity and morale. Employees appreciate the fairness and rhythm of the schedule. This can lead to stronger retention, fewer absences, and healthier team dynamics.
  
  

• Supports compliance requirements. With built-in regular rest periods, it's easier to stay within labor law limits for hours worked and mandatory breaks.

The 2-2-3 schedule works because it creates a sustainable pace for demanding, nonstop operations. It supports both the business’s need for reliability and the employee’s need for balance, which is often tough to pull off in 24/7 environments.

While the 2-2-3 schedule has plenty of advantages, it's not without its downsides.

The long 12-hour shifts can be physically and mentally draining, especially during night rotations.

Employees may struggle to adjust their sleep, keep up with responsibilities at home, or feel isolated from coworkers on opposite rotations.

Fairness can also become a point of tension.

If shifts aren't distributed evenly or if handoffs aren't smooth, it can lead to confusion, resentment, or dropped responsibilities. Add labor compliance rules and potential scheduling errors, and the system can start to show cracks without the right support.

How to keep teams connected with communication

For teams working rotating shifts, strong communication is non-negotiable.

Workers aren't always on site simultaneously, which means key information must be passed along clearly and consistently across shifts. That could be as simple as a shared handoff log or as structured as regular team updates via a central platform.

Team leads should also check in regularly — not just about tasks, but about how people are coping with the hours. Something as small as recognizing a team member’s effort during a tough run of night shifts can go a long way in maintaining morale.

Tips to make the 2-2-3 schedule work

Whether you're planning the schedule or working within it, a few small habits can make the 2-2-3 model a lot smoother:

• Take breaks seriously. Long shifts are taxing. Build in break tracking and encourage people to use them. Tools like Hubstaff can help simplify this.
  
  

• Support wellness. Fatigue and burnout often come unexpectedly. Wellness reminders and morale check-ins can help managers spot early warning signs and act before they become a problem.
  
  

• Make shift handoffs deliberate. Use checklists or shared notes so outgoing teams can cleanly pass along status updates, tasks in progress, and issues to incoming crews.
  
  

• Keep communication visible. Everyone needs a place to check updates, report problems, and see what’s going on outside their immediate shift bubble. This can be done through communication tools, scheduling apps, or even just a physical logbook.

Of course, all of this can be streamlined with the right software tools.

How technology can help

Rotating shift schedules like 2-2-3 aren’t easy to manage by hand, especially when you're juggling multiple teams, labor laws, and employee preferences.

This is where software makes a real difference.

Scheduling software like Hubstaff can relieve some of that pressure. Instead of building rotations manually or double-checking spreadsheets, managers can create shift schedules with a few clicks.

You can reassign or edit shifts quickly without disrupting the whole cycle. Built-in break tracking also helps teams comply with labor laws, especially on long 12-hour shifts where breaks are easy to miss.

Here’s a practical step-by-step breakdown to set up a 2-2-3 shift and keep it running smoothly:

1. Define your coverage needs for each shift. Before you touch a calendar, figure out how many people you need working each shift to keep operations running. This helps prevent over or understaffing later on.
   
   

2. Build four evenly structured teams. Divide your workforce so that each team can operate independently. Aim for a balance of skills, experience, and availability across all four groups.
   
   

3. Lay out the full 14-day rotation. Assign workdays and rest days using the 2-2-3 pattern. Then, decide whether teams will rotate between day and night shifts or stay fixed. Ensure weekend shifts alternate fairly.
   
   

4. Share the schedule early and clearly. Give employees enough notice to plan their personal lives around the schedule. Define details like shift start times, break expectations, and how handoffs should work.
   
   

5. Track time and breaks automatically. Use tools like Hubstaff to monitor worked hours and breaks in real time. This helps you prevent anyone from working beyond their limits while you stay compliant.
   
   

6. Check in regularly and adjust when needed. After a few cycles, review how the schedule is working, both in terms of staffing needs and employee feedback. Tweak assignments or shift rotations to fix any friction points.

A good 2-2-3 schedule should feel stable, not rigid. The more clearly it’s built and communicated, the less time you’ll spend putting out fires later.

Hubstaff’s employee scheduling software simplifies managing complex shift patterns like the 2-2-3. Managers can build and assign shifts in just a few clicks with no spreadsheets required.

If someone calls out or a change is needed, shifts can be adjusted quickly without disrupting the full rotation. Everyone gets real-time updates, so there’s no confusion about who’s working when.

Hubstaff also tracks worked hours and breaks automatically. In other words, fewer compliance headaches and more time focused on keeping operations running smoothly.

Industries seeking a method for 24/7 staffing have a few options to consider, each with its respective pros and cons. The 2-2-3 schedule is a favorite among employees due to the frequent 3-day weekends and shorter workweeks.

The Panama Plus, Pitman, DuPont, and DDNNOO variations of the 2-2-3 schedule also provide adequate coverage for your business. No matter which scheduling method you use for your organization, be intentional with implementation and managing the transition, and ensure each employee works productively and efficiently in their shift schedule.