Kelly schedules add extra days off to a 24-hour rotation. This page uses one common version on a 9-day cycle: 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, 24 off, 24 on, then 96 hours off. Departments define their own Kelly days, so check yours.
The pattern
| Day | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 24 | off | 24 | off | 24 | off | off | off | off |
Hours
Over one 9-day cycle that is 72 hours, an average of 56 hours a week. Because the cycle does not line up with a calendar week, some weeks have more hours than others: the calendar above shows each week’s total and the hours over 40.
The calendar will match your department only if its cycle is the same as this one.
Overtime
Under federal law, most hourly employees get overtime for hours over 40 in their employer’s fixed workweek, whatever the schedule. Fire and police departments can use a longer work period under section 7(k) of the FLSA; for fire protection that is 212 hours in 28 days. State rules and union contracts can add more.
Sources
- 29 CFR 553.230: maximum hours for fire protection and law enforcement work periods under FLSA section 7(k)
- US Department of Labor Fact Sheet 8: Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Employees Under the FLSA
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kelly day?
An extra scheduled day off in a 24-hour rotation that lowers average weekly hours.
How many hours a week is this Kelly schedule?
72 hours every 9 days, an average of 56.
Why is it called Kelly?
Accounts differ; departments have used the name for decades.
