The Pros and Cons of the DuPont Shift Schedule

DuPont shift schedules are an alternative structure to the five-day workweek.

In a typical work schedule, employees work the same hours on the same days of the week. However, the DuPont shift schedule follows a specific structure that changes week by week across a four-week cycle.

Named after the company that first implemented it in the 1950s, this schedule style is standard among businesses that operate around the clock.

The DuPont structure differs from typical work schedule types because it features a rotating shift plan to provide 24/7 coverage while allocating adequate time off for employees.

The DuPont scheduling format is a fixed four-week cycle. Here’s how it breaks out:

• Week 1: Work four consecutive night shifts followed by three days off.

• Week 2: Work three day shifts, have one day off, then work three night shifts.

• Week 3: Have three days off, then work four consecutive day shifts.

• Week 4: Have seven consecutive days off.

All shifts on a DuPont schedule are twelve-hour shifts, so employees average 42-hours throughout the four-week cycle on a rotating schedule. That may not sound so bad at first glance, but employees could work up to 72 hours in a given week.

This rotating shift pattern requires four teams with each one following their own four-week schedule. This way, they can adequately provide 24/7 coverage with two teams working at all times.

DuPont schedules operate on a repeat cycle. At the end of each four-week period, the work schedule resets.

DuPont shift schedule examples

The schedule template here illustrates an employee’s schedule when following the DuPont rotating shift pattern.

Most industries that utilize the Dupont schedule do so to prevent work stoppages and ensure adequate coverage. Industries and occupations that benefit from the DuPont schedule include:

• Chemical

• Manufacturing

• Power

• Engineering

• Police

The DuPont shift schedule is also common amongst companies that need 24-hour day coverage to maximize operational success. These work environments are not afforded the luxury of eight-hour shifts like many standard office jobs because employers need help around the clock.

Due to the four-week cycle shift work employees can average a maximum of two overtime hours per week. Since this schedule is splitting 168 hours of work per week among four teams, each team is allotted an average of 42 hours.

With the way these shift cycles are set up, there is one week each month during which employees must work six 12-hour shifts in just seven days. This totals to an exhausting 72 hours for that week.

Using a DuPont shift schedule presents advantages and disadvantages for both employers and employees.

Advantages of the DuPont shift schedule

DuPont schedules are ideal for employers because they ensure at least two teams are on the clock. For managers, this structure removes the stress of creating a shift schedule and makes it easier to accommodate employee time-off requests.

In typical work schedules, full-time employees work eight hours a day for five days a week — a total of 40 hours a week and eight days off per month.

With a DuPont schedule, employees have to work longer, 42-hour weeks, but they’re rewarded with 15 days off in every four-week cycle.

Having almost twice as many days off is a major benefit for those working on a DuPont schedule. Planning vacations, family events, and other extracurricular activities is a lot easier with extended time off periods and plenty of scheduling notice.

That said, there are obviously some disadvantages as well.

Disadvantages of the DuPont shift schedule

On the other hand, since the schedule is set so far in advance, it can be difficult for employers to find coverage for employees who call in sick.

For employees, the long 12-hour shifts schedule can be tedious and may not align with the lives of their family and friends.

Additionally, it can be hard to get used to the DuPont schedule. After a while, the schedule can cause increased fatigue and interrupt your sleep schedule.

Before switching to a DuPont schedule, it is important to consider the long shift lengths and initial confusion shift workers may have while adjusting.

Regardless, this work schedule offers many benefits and is a popular solution for companies seeking 24-hour employment every day through the work week. If you find that the DuPont schedule is not the right fit for your team, consider using a shift scheduling tool to create your ideal schedule.