This 12-hour shift schedule template covers one continuously staffed position with four alternating teams. One team works the day block, one works the night block, and two are off every cycle day. Each team works seven shifts over 14 days, for 84 cycle hours and a 42-hour weekly average.
That is coverage math, not a complete staffing decision. If a shift needs three people, each team in the table represents a three-person crew. Vacation, sickness, training, breaks, and surge coverage require additional relief capacity.
How to read the 2-2-3 rotation
Team A follows two days on, two off, three on, two off, two on, then three off. Team B fills the opposite day blocks. Teams C and D repeat the same sequence on nights. After day 14, restart at day 1.
The long and short workweeks alternate with the cycle. A manager should attach a real start date before assigning employees, because a weekly total can be 36 or 48 hours even though the 14-day average is 42.
The staffing math behind the table
| Measure | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Daily base coverage | 2 shifts × 12 hours | 24 hours |
| Weekly base coverage | 14 shifts × 12 hours | 168 hours |
| One team per cycle | 7 shifts × 12 hours | 84 hours |
| Average per team | 84 × 7 ÷ 14 days | 42 hours/week |
Multiply 168 weekly hours by the number of people required on duty. Two people on every shift means 336 scheduled person-hours before relief and handoff time.
Keep handoff time visible
The sample blocks touch at 06:00 and 18:00. If the outgoing team must brief the incoming team, inspect equipment, count a drawer, or complete another shared task, add that time to the real schedule. Do not hide a 10- or 15-minute handoff outside paid working time.
Enter the night shift consistently
The table writes the night block as 18:00–06:00 because that is how teams usually read it. The current Maxuod Shift scheduler cannot record that continuous cross-midnight block as one exact shift. Keep the CSV or printed rotation as the source for overnight coverage, or use a documented split that matches your external time record and reconcile the boundary before relying on totals. Do not treat 23:55 as midnight without accounting for the missing five minutes.
Review overtime and night-work limits separately
A 12-hour rotation can cross daily or weekly overtime thresholds depending on the jurisdiction and employee. Use the Canadian overtime calculator as an estimate and review prompt, then verify the dated schedule against current rules, agreements, and payroll advice. The template does not decide whether a particular rotation is appropriate for an employee.
Turn the sample into a real schedule
- Choose the real day-one date and name the four crews.
- Multiply each team by the required people and roles per shift.
- Add relief for leave, absence, training, breaks, and demand spikes.
- Document overnight work outside the live total or use a reconciled split convention.
- Check each dated week for coverage, availability, hours, and local rules before publishing.