How the DuPont rotation works
Each crew repeats the same 28-day sequence, starting 7 days after the crew before it. On any day, one crew is on the day shift, one on nights and two are off.
- 4 night shifts, then 3 days off
- 3 day shifts, then 1 day off
- 3 night shifts, then 3 days off
- 4 day shifts, then 7 days off
DuPont schedule example: one crew over four weeks
Here's one crew with the cycle starting on a Monday. Crews B, C and D follow the same weeks, each one week later.
- Week 1: nights Mon–Thu, off Fri–Sun (48 hours)
- Week 2: days Mon–Wed, off Thu, nights Fri–Sun (72 hours)
- Week 3: off Mon–Wed, days Thu–Sun (48 hours)
- Week 4: off all week (0 hours)
Hours and overtime on a DuPont schedule
A crew works 14 shifts per 28 days: 168 hours, or 42 a week on average and about 2,190 a year. Under federal law, non-exempt employees earn overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, so what matters for pay is how the calendar weeks fall.
With the Monday start above, the weeks run 48, 72, 48 and 0 hours: 48 overtime hours per cycle. If the payroll week starts on a Thursday instead, three days into the cycle, weeks alternate between 36 and 48 hours and overtime drops to 16 hours per cycle. Map the cycle against your payroll week before you choose a start date.
The hard stretch
The week with 3 day shifts, 1 day off and 3 night shifts is 72 hours of work in 7 days, with a switch from days to nights after one day off. Circadian, a shift-work consultancy, calls it the schedule's most criticized feature.
NIOSH research links 12-hour shifts to lower alertness and less sleep. If you run DuPont, plan that week carefully: avoid adding overtime to it and keep training or meetings out of it.
Where the name comes from
The rotation is named after the DuPont chemical company. According to Circadian, DuPont employees developed it in the 1950s to fix coverage and fatigue problems with 8-hour shifts, and it later spread to other continuous operations.
Pros and cons
- 7 days off in a row every 4 weeks, without using vacation.
- Only 14 shifts per 28 days; about half the year is off.
- Every crew shares nights and days equally.
- 2 of every 4 weekends are fully off when the cycle starts on a Monday.
- One 72-hour week per cycle, with a day-to-night switch after one day off.
- Up to 4 night shifts of 12 hours in a row.
- Overtime under the 40-hour rule can reach 48 hours per cycle, depending on the payroll week.
- Harder to remember than a 14-day pattern; most people need a calendar.
Who it works for
- Chemical, oil and gas plants
- Continuous process manufacturing: paper, glass, metals, food, pharmaceuticals
- Power generation, including nuclear
- Mining
- Emergency services and healthcare
FAQ
What is the DuPont schedule?
A 12-hour rotating shift schedule in which four crews cover 24/7 over a 28-day cycle: 4 nights, 3 off, 3 days, 1 off, 3 nights, 3 off, 4 days, then 7 days off.
How many hours a week do you work on a DuPont schedule?
42 hours on average: 14 twelve-hour shifts every 28 days. Individual weeks range from 0 to 72 hours, depending on where the week falls in the cycle.
How much overtime does the DuPont schedule pay?
Under the federal 40-hour rule, between 16 and 48 overtime hours per 28-day cycle, depending on which weekday your payroll week starts relative to the cycle. Multiply by 1.5 times your regular rate to estimate the premium.
Do you really get 7 days off in a row?
Yes. The cycle ends with 4 day shifts followed by 7 days off, once every 28 days.
Is the DuPont schedule bad for your health?
It has the same risks as other 12-hour rotations. NIOSH links 12-hour shifts to lower alertness and less sleep, and shift work in general to sleep and metabolic problems. The 72-hour week is the part to watch.
DuPont vs 4 on 4 off: what's the difference?
Both use four crews, 12-hour shifts and average 42 hours a week. DuPont has uneven blocks and a 7-day break every 4 weeks. 4 on 4 off always works 4 shifts and rests 4 days, so it never has a week off and never has a 72-hour week.