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Continuous coverage

24/7 roster generator for continuous shift coverage

Turn round-the-clock staffing requirements into a workable roster using actual workers, roles, availability and work rules—and keep any gaps visible.

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A 24/7 roster must cover 168 hours per week for every position that needs continuous presence. The real staffing requirement is usually higher than the raw hours suggest because leave, qualifications, availability, rest and shift rules reduce interchangeable capacity.

Create a 24/7 roster

Add your locations, shifts and people to generate a 7-day roster. No account needed.

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What kind of team are you scheduling?

Data residencyUnited States

Choose where your roster data is processed and stored.

Data residency

Start with coverage, not with a favourite rotation

A 4-on-4-off, 2-2-3 or DuPont pattern can be a useful template, but the first question is whether the required coverage can be sustained by the workforce you actually have.

Define how many people must be present, which roles or qualifications are required, and when that demand exists. Then test worker capacity against the planning horizon.

  • 168 staffed hours per week for each continuously covered position.
  • Multiple simultaneous posts multiply the total staffed hours.
  • Specialist roles can become the bottleneck even when total headcount looks sufficient.
  • Relief capacity is needed for leave, sickness, training and other unavailable time.

Why five people does not always mean one 24/7 post is covered

At 40 available hours per worker, one 24/7 position has a raw requirement of 4.2 FTE. Rounding that to five people is only the mathematical starting point.

If one worker cannot cover nights, another is on leave, and only two hold the required qualification, the real roster can still fail. That is why headcount alone cannot tell you whether the schedule will work.

What Rosterzen does when the week is impossible

Rosterzen builds the most workable schedule it can from the rules you enter. Any remaining shifts stay open, with the reason shown—such as availability, qualifications, rest, overlapping work, weekly hours or simply not enough people.

That gives the manager a concrete next action: add relief, change demand, adjust a rule where operationally appropriate, or source another qualified worker.

Scheduling patterns and staffing formulas are planning aids. Whether the schedule works depends on the workers, roles, qualifications, availability, leave, rest rules and other requirements that apply to your organisation.

Frequently asked questions

How many staff are needed for 24/7 coverage?

For one continuously staffed position, the raw requirement is 168 staffed hours per week. Divide 168 by the weekly hours one worker can contribute to get raw FTE, then add the effect of leave, training, absence, qualifications, availability and work rules.

What is the best shift pattern for 24/7 coverage?

There is no single best pattern. Common options include 4-on-4-off and 2-2-3/Panama rotations. The right choice depends on shift length, workforce size, fatigue rules, handover needs and employee preferences.

Can Rosterzen leave shifts unfilled?

Yes. If nobody eligible can take the shift without breaking one of your rules, the shift remains open instead of forcing a bad assignment.

Related scheduling resources

How many employees for 24/7 coverage?

Work through the staffing math and practical relief factors.

4-on-4-off schedule

Preview a common 12-hour rotation pattern.

2-2-3 Panama schedule

Preview the 14-day Pitman/Panama rotation.

Build your staff roster automatically

Configure shifts, people and rules. Preview a 7-day schedule with zero commitment or account required.

Create your first roster Book a demo