Shifty

Continental Schedule Calendar & Generator

Four crews on fast-rotating 8-hour shifts over 28 days: 2 days, 2 evenings, 3 nights, 2 off, then 2 days, 3 evenings, 2 nights, 2 off, then 3 days, 2 evenings, 2 nights, 3 off.

Also called: continental shift pattern, 8 hour 2-2-3 schedule, continental rota.

Shift length
8 h
Avg hours / week
42
Weekends off / year
13
Longest stretch on
7 shifts
Longest break
3 days
Cycle length
28 days

Continental schedule generator

The cycle start date is any date that was Day 1 of the rotation in the crew table above. Not sure? Pick a recent date you started a run of shifts, then switch crews until the calendar matches what you actually worked.

Keep it synced on your phone

The .ics download is a one-time copy. Calendar sync gives you a live calendar link for Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook that rolls forward on its own, and you can change crew or schedule any time without re-importing.

Coming soon

How the Continental schedule works

The continental schedule is a fast-rotating 8-hour pattern for 24/7 operations. Crews change shift every two or three days instead of every week, using the same 2-2-3 rhythm as the Pitman schedule.

Week one is 2 day shifts, 2 evenings and 3 nights, followed by 2 days off. Week two is 2 days, 3 evenings and 2 nights, then 2 off. Week three is 3 days, 2 evenings and 2 nights, then 3 off.

The full rotation takes 28 days. Four crews are staggered by one week, so every day has one crew on days, one on evenings, one on nights and one off.

Shifts always move forward, from days to evenings to nights, which is easier on sleep than rotating backwards.

Continental Schedule crew rotation, day by day

Each row is one crew over one full 28-day cycle. Read down a column to see who is working on that day.

Day12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Crew ADDEENNN––DDEEENN––DDDEENN–––
Crew B––DDEEENN––DDDEENN–––DDEENNN
Crew CNN––DDDEENN–––DDEENNN––DDEEE
Crew DEENN–––DDEENNN––DDEEENN––DDD

Who uses it

Trade-offs

Continental Schedule FAQ

How many hours a week is a Continental schedule?

42 hours a week on average. That is about 274 8-hour shifts a year, though individual weeks vary.

How many weekends off do you get on a Continental schedule?

About 13 full weekends (Saturday and Sunday) off a year per crew. Use the generator to see exactly which ones for your crew.

How long is the Continental rotation?

The cycle repeats every 28 days. The longest run of shifts is 7 in a row and the longest break is 3 days off in a row.

What is the difference between continental and southern swing?

Both use four crews on 8-hour shifts over 28 days. Southern swing keeps you on the same shift for 7 shifts in a row; continental changes shift every 2 or 3 days.

Can I print a Continental calendar or add it to my phone?

Yes. Pick your crew and cycle start date in the generator, then use “Print calendar” for a 12-month printable calendar or “Download .ics” to import your shifts into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook. It's free and needs no account.