The common 14-day sequence
A typical cycle is: work 2, rest 2, work 3, rest 2, work 2, rest 3. That produces seven workdays and seven rest days over two weeks. Teams can be offset from one another so the workplace remains staffed, and some employers use a different starting point in the same sequence.
Work
The first two confirmed shifts in the cycle.
Rest
Two scheduled days away from work.
Work
The longer three-shift block.
Rest
Two rest days before the final work block.
Work
Two more scheduled shifts.
Rest
The longer rest block before repeating.
Choose the anchor date carefully
The generator needs one known date that corresponds to day one of the cycle. Do not choose an arbitrary recent workday. If the selected date is actually day five or day ten, every future date will be shifted even though the work/rest pattern still looks plausible.
- Find the first day of a confirmed two-shift block.
- Compare the following 14 days with the official roster.
- Confirm whether the assignment is days, nights, or a separate rotating rule.
- Add exceptions only after the base cycle is correct.
Hours, weekends, and pay
A 2-2-3 pattern often moves work across weekdays and weekends. Weekly hours can vary depending on where the employer defines the payroll week. Overtime, differentials, holiday pay, and breaks depend on local law and workplace policy, not on the rotation name.
Record the hours and pay settings your employer actually uses. A repeating schedule can predict dates, but it cannot establish overtime eligibility or payroll calculations.
Preview your own cycle
Use the free generator with a confirmed first workday, then compare at least two complete cycles before transferring the dates to a personal planner.
Generate a 2-2-3 schedule
Preview four, six, or eight weeks without sending the selected date anywhere.