Read a complete eight-day cycle
| Date | Pattern position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2–5 | Days 1–4 | Work |
| Nov 6–9 | Days 5–8 | Off |
| Nov 10 | Day 1 again | Next work block begins |
The second work block starts on Tuesday, not Monday. Restarting the pattern every Monday would produce a different schedule. The start date and the eight-day cycle must stay connected when you cross into a new month.
Calculate hours over the cycle first
With four 12-hour shifts, the scheduled span is 48 hours per eight-day cycle. The long-run weekly average is 48 ÷ 8 × 7 = 42 hours. That is an average across cycles, not a promise of exactly 42 hours in each Monday-to-Sunday week.
If each shift includes a 30-minute unpaid break, paid time is 11.5 hours per shift: 46 paid hours per cycle, or 40.25 per week on average. Actual weekly totals depend on where the work block falls. Overtime cannot be inferred from this average alone; use the applicable calculation period and rules.
Four on does not specify the shift types
The phrase only describes workdays and days off. Your four workdays could all be day shifts, all be night shifts, or a mixture. A pattern of two days, two nights and four off still has eight positions, but each work position needs the correct shift template.
For an overnight shift, label it by its start date and confirm the end date. Do not accidentally count the next morning as another full workday.
Put the pattern on your calendar
- Choose a confirmed first workday.
- Enter four work positions with the right times, then four off positions.
- Generate at least two cycles and compare them with the roster.
- Add leave and swaps as individual exceptions.
Try the rotation calendar generator with the pattern Work, Work, Work, Work, Off, Off, Off, Off. In ClockPay, saved rotations connect the dates to your shift settings.