📅 Shift Schedule Calculator
Calculated under the Russian Labour Code: public holidays ×2 (Art. 153), night hours +20% (Art. 154), hourly norms
From picking a cycle to a finished calendar
Templates 2/2, 5/2 and 1/3 set the cycle in one click. Any custom cycle from 1 to 30 days.
First shift date, hours per shift, night hours and Labour Code bonuses for each employee.
Export to Excel, PDF and .ics, a shareable schedule link and a phone QR code.
Shift schedule: how to build, calculate and document one
A shift schedule is a document that defines the rotation of working days and days off for an employee or an entire department. It is essential for manufacturing, security, healthcare, logistics, retail and any service that runs around the clock.
Need to quickly calculate a 2/2, 3/3 or 24-on/3-off schedule? Use the calculator above. It builds the timetable months ahead, shows month-by-month calendars and totals the number of shifts, hours and night shifts.
How the shift calculator works
The calculator builds a schedule from a given cycle: several working days in a row, then several days off. You can pick any cycle — from 1 to 30 working and days off.
Popular formats:
- 2/2 — two working days, two days off;
- 3/3 — three working days, three days off;
- 5/2 — five working days, two days off;
- 24/72 — one day on, three days off.
Check the “🌙 Night” box and the calculator will include night hours (22:00–6:00) and add a +20% night bonus to the salary (Art. 154 of the Russian Labour Code).
Shift schedule vs. work schedule: what is the difference?
These terms are often mixed up, but the difference matters for HR records.
A work schedule is the daily working-time regime of a single employee: shift start and end times, breaks.
A shift schedule is a document that assigns employees to shifts. It is required when the workflow goes beyond the normal working day (e.g. continuous production or 24/7 security).
Important: employees must be familiarised with the shift schedule at least one month before it takes effect. This is a requirement of the Russian Labour Code.
Legal points to keep in mind
When compiling a shift schedule, remember these restrictions:
- No two shifts in a row — an employee cannot work two consecutive shifts, even if they agree to it.
- Night time — 22:00 to 06:00. Night shifts are paid at a higher rate.
- Summarised working time accounting — if the schedule does not fit the standard 40-hour week, summarised accounting is introduced. The accounting period may be a month, a quarter or a year.
❓ Frequently asked questions about shift schedules
How many shifts per month on a 1-2 schedule?
The 1/2 schedule is a 3-day cycle: one working day and two days off. Since 3 does not divide evenly into 7, the number of shifts “floats” through the calendar.
Number of shifts depending on the days in a month:
- 28 days — 9 or 10 shifts;
- 29 days — 9 or 10 shifts;
- 30 days — exactly 10 shifts;
- 31 days — 10 or 11 shifts.
The exact number depends on which day of the cycle the month starts on.
How many shifts per month on a 2/2 schedule?
On a 2/2 schedule the number of shifts per month varies from 14 to 16. It depends on the length of the month and the weekday the cycle starts on.
The 2/2 cycle is always 4 days, and 4 does not divide evenly into 7, so working and days off keep shifting.
Number of shifts depending on the days in a month:
- 28 days — always 14 shifts;
- 29 days — 14 or 15 shifts;
- 30 days — 14 or 16 shifts;
- 31 days — 15 or 16 shifts.
What is the night shift bonus?
Under Article 154 of the Russian Labour Code, every hour worked at night (22:00–6:00) is paid with a bonus of at least 20% of the hourly rate.
How is vacation pay calculated for a shift worker?
Vacation pay is based on the average daily wage: payments over 12 months are divided by 12 and by 29.3, then multiplied by the number of vacation days (28). The calculator does this automatically.
Can I export the schedule to Excel or a calendar app?
Yes. Export to Excel (CSV), an .ics file for Google Calendar and Outlook, and a printable PDF timesheet are available.