Define the sequence
Early, late and night blocks combine with consecutive days off to create a repeatable cycle.
Free shift pattern generator
Create an early, late and night shift pattern
Generate a visual team rotation, identify coverage gaps and review key German working-time indicators. Export to Excel, CSV or PDF directly in your browser.
- 100% free
- No sign-up
- Your entries are never stored
Configure and compare your shift rotation
Teams · Shift times · Days off · ExportConfigure pattern
Shift times and breaks
MinutesAll inputs and calculations remain in your browser. No names or personal data are processed.
Generated shift pattern
4-team pattern with 3 shifts
Pattern with 4 teams and 8 cycle days. Coverage gaps detected: 0.
- Teams
- 4
- Cycle
- 8 days
- Avg net/week
- 39.4 h
- Coverage
- All shifts covered
EarlyLateNightOff
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team A | E | E | L | L | N | N | – | – |
| Team B | L | L | N | N | – | – | E | E |
| Team C | N | N | – | – | E | E | L | L |
| Team D | – | – | E | E | L | L | N | N |
Shortest rest
16 h
Longest work block
6 days
Longest night block
2 days
Working-time and design indicators
Statutory German baseline values and occupational-science BAuA recommendations are shown separately for orientation.
Baseline coverage calculated
Every active shift has at least one team on each cycle day. Qualifications and minimum staffing levels are not included.
Review break placement
Work exceeding 6 hours generally requires 30 minutes of breaks; work exceeding 9 hours requires 45 minutes.
More than 5 consecutive workdays
The longest work block contains 6 days. BAuA recommends no more than five consecutive workdays.
Assess night work separately
Section 6 ArbZG requires humane design and includes additional requirements and rights for night work.
Sundays and holidays not checked by date
The repeating cycle has no calendar dates. Permissibility, free Sundays and compensatory rest days require a separate review.
Sources reviewed: 12 Aug 2026. Only the displayed baseline pattern and general rules for adult employees in Germany are checked. Not legal advice or proof of permissibility.
How the generator works
From shift requirement to a visible rotation
Offset team starts
Each team starts at a different point in the cycle, revealing who works, who is off and where gaps occur.
Review baseline values
Shift duration, entered breaks, rest periods, night blocks and rotation direction receive transparent classifications.
Shift patterns compared
2 shifts, 3 shifts or a 4-team rotation?
The right rotation depends on operating time, workforce size, workload and desired free time. The generator provides a base pattern, not an automatically completed employee schedule.
Early + late
2-shift pattern
Early and late shifts alternate with off-duty phases for extended operations without permanent night coverage.
Common in retail, logistics and production operating for 12–16 hours.
Early + late + night
3-shift pattern
Three shift types cover the full day. Without an additional team, little room remains for consecutive off-duty phases.
Common in 24/7 operations with separately planned reserve capacity.
24/7 + off phase
4-team rotation
Four teams rotate across three shifts and one off-duty phase. The underlying pattern is immediately visible.
A useful starting point for continuous operations with short forward rotation.
Occupational-science design
Plan for resilience, not only gap-free coverage
A pattern can be fully staffed and still be unfavourable. BAuA recommends short forward rotations and sufficient recovery after night work, among other measures.
- Rotate early → late → night instead of shortening recovery through backward changes.
- Keep night blocks short; BAuA recommends no more than three consecutive night shifts.
- Allow at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours, recovery after a night phase.
- Create regular, predictable cycles and consecutive days off wherever possible.
From pattern to real schedule
Rotation is the foundation; people make the schedule
The generator visualises the repeating pattern. In Shiftdesk, you then assign employees, account for availability, absences and qualifications, and publish changes centrally.
Staff teams with people
Turn teams A–D into employees with roles, contracts and qualifications.
Account for availability
View leave, absences and individual working times directly in the planning context.
Publish changes
Coordinate current schedules, open shifts and swap requests in one place.
Get the free shift schedule template
Transfer your pattern to the free Excel and PDF package with shift rotation, hour calculations and an ArbZG checklist.
Rather not do the math yourself anymore?
Implement your shift pattern digitally with actual employees, availability, absences and published schedules.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about shift patterns
What is a shift pattern?
A shift pattern describes how early, late, night and off-duty phases repeatedly distribute across teams. The employee schedule then assigns individual people to this base pattern.
How does a 4-team shift pattern work?
Four teams start at different points in the same cycle. In a simple 24/7 pattern, three teams cover early, late and night while one team is off, then all teams rotate forward.
Why is early → late → night the recommended direction?
BAuA recommends short forward rotations because backward changes often shorten recovery. A typical late-to-early change from 10 pm to 6 am leaves only 8 hours of rest.
How many consecutive night shifts are recommended?
BAuA recommends keeping night blocks short and identifies no more than three consecutive night shifts as a design value. This is occupational-science guidance, not a standalone rigid prohibition.
Are breaks included in the calculation?
Yes. The entered break is deducted from each shift span. The resulting net working time is then reviewed against general thresholds in sections 3 and 4 ArbZG.
Does the generator check Sundays and public holidays?
No. The pattern is an undated repeating cycle. Whether a shift falls on a Sunday or public holiday and which exception or compensatory day applies requires a separate calendar review.
Is a pattern with no indicators automatically legally compliant?
No. The generator checks selected baseline values only. Collective agreements, company agreements, sector rules, individual protections, other employers and specific work activities remain outside its scope.
Can I export the rotation?
Yes. Download the complete pattern as Excel or CSV, print it as PDF, copy the summary or share a link containing all inputs.
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