Panama schedule

The Panama schedule is another name for the 2-2-3 schedule: four crews on 12-hour shifts that cover 24/7. Each person works 2 days, has 2 off, works 3, has 2 off, works 2 and has 3 off, so every other weekend is off. It averages 42 hours a week.

Written by Maren Vellory, Operations Manager · Updated October 19, 2026

The numbers

Worked out from the cycle. Weekends are counted from a Monday start.

Shift length: 12 hours
Crews: 4
Cycle: 28 days
Average hours a week: 42 hours
Longest run of work: 3 days
Longest break: 3 days
Weekends fully off: 1 in 2
Cover: 24/7
People for 1 on each shift: 4

Panama schedule calendar

The next 28 days from Monday, October 19, 2026. Change the dates below to see your own 8 weeks.

You need 4 people: 4 crews of 1, before cover for time off and sickness.

DDay 07:00–19:00
NNight 19:00–07:00
OOff

Hours per week and per 2-week pay period

The next 8 weeks for each crew, from the start date. Your pay week may start on another day; then the hours split differently.

Crew	Weeks 1–2	Weeks 3–4	Weeks 5–6	Weeks 7–8
Crew 1	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week
Crew 2	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week
Crew 3	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (60 + 24) 20 h over 40 a week
Crew 4	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week	84 h (24 + 60) 20 h over 40 a week

Over 40 hours in a week is overtime under the US federal rule (time and a half). Your state, province or contract can add more, for example daily overtime.

Download the Panama schedule

The next 12 months for each crew, from the start date and shift times above. The CSV opens in Excel and Google Sheets. The calendar file adds each shift to Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar.

How the Panama schedule works

Make four crews of the same size.
Each shift is 12 hours: a day shift and a night shift.
Each crew follows 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off over 14 days.
Two crews share the day shifts and two share the nights. When one crew is off, its partner works.
Every 14 days a crew changes from days to nights or back. The full cycle is 28 days.

One cycle for crew 1, day by day: DDOODDDOODDOOONNOONNNOONNOOO (D day, N night, O off).

Pros

Every other weekend off, as a 3-day weekend.
No more than 3 shifts in a row.
Everyone shares the nights, not only one crew.

Cons

The change between days and nights every two weeks upsets sleep.
Work days move every week.
Long and short weeks take turns, so overtime comes every other week.

Who uses it

Police and fire departments, dispatch centers, hospitals and plants that run 24/7.

One sequence, three names

The 2-2-3, Panama and Pitman schedules all use the same 14 days: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. Most sources treat 2-2-3 and Panama as one pattern in which crews change between days and nights. Most say Pitman crews stay on days or on nights.

Sources use the names loosely, so ask which version a team means. The hours are the same in each: 42 a week on average.

See also: 2-2-3 schedule and Pitman schedule.

Questions

Why is it called the Panama schedule?

Sources do not agree on where the name comes from. The pattern is the same as the 2-2-3 schedule.

What is the difference between the Panama and Pitman schedules?

They use the same 14-day sequence. Most sources say Panama crews change between days and nights, and Pitman crews stay on days or on nights. Both names are used for both versions.

How many hours a week is the Panama schedule?

42 hours on average: 84 hours every two weeks. From a Monday start that is 60 and 24; from a Wednesday start, 36 and 48.

How many people do I need?

Four crews. For 2 people on each shift, that is 8 people, before cover for time off.

Put real people on these shifts.

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Crew	Mo 19	Tu 20	We 21	Th 22	Fr 23	Sa 24	Su 25	Mo 26	Tu 27	We 28	Th 29	Fr 30	Sa 31	Su 1	Mo 2	Tu 3	We 4	Th 5	Fr 6	Sa 7	Su 8	Mo 9	Tu 10	We 11	Th 12	Fr 13	Sa 14	Su 15
Crew 1	D	D	O	O	D	D	D	O	O	D	D	O	O	O	N	N	O	O	N	N	N	O	O	N	N	O	O	O
Crew 2	O	O	D	D	O	O	O	N	N	O	O	N	N	N	O	O	N	N	O	O	O	D	D	O	O	D	D	D
Crew 3	N	N	O	O	N	N	N	O	O	N	N	O	O	O	D	D	O	O	D	D	D	O	O	D	D	O	O	O
Crew 4	O	O	N	N	O	O	O	D	D	O	O	D	D	D	O	O	D	D	O	O	O	N	N	O	O	N	N	N