The cycle, not the weekday, is the starting point
A repeating rota is represented as a sequence of work and off days. Once one known date is assigned to day 1 of that sequence, the pattern can be repeated forwards through the planning year. This is why two colleagues on the same nominal rota can receive different leave suggestions if they sit at different positions in the cycle.
| Preset | Modelled cycle | Cycle length | Work positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 on / 4 off | W W W W O O O O | 8 days | 4 |
| 2 days / 2 nights / 4 off | D D N N O O O O | 8 days | 4 |
| 2-2-3 preset | W W O O W W W O O W W O O O | 14 days | 7 |
All three presets happen to contain work on half of their cycle positions. Across an abstract 365-day period that corresponds to about 182.5 scheduled work positions before leave. The exact count in a particular calendar year depends on the anchor date and where the year begins and ends within the cycle.
Why 2 days / 2 nights / 4 off is not identical to 4-on-4-off
Both contain four work positions followed by four off positions, but the day/night labels matter when checking the result against an actual roster. Work Decisions keeps those duty types visible even though both count as work positions for the purpose of connecting continuous leave blocks.
Why “2-2-3” needs a definition
Employers use variations of the phrase 2-2-3. Work Decisions' preset explicitly models two work, two off, three work, two off, two work and three off over fourteen days. If your published rota differs, the custom-pattern tool is the correct input instead of assuming the label is universal.
How leave optimisation works
The optimiser looks for calendar blocks where a small number of rostered work positions can be booked as leave to connect existing off periods. It counts the leave shifts needed and the resulting continuous calendar break. It does not determine how many hours or shifts your employer will deduct from your leave balance.
The planner is date-based. If an overnight duty is assigned to a different leave date or deduction rule in your employer's roster system, the employer system is the source of truth.