5 things to know about your coworkers with kids

5 things to know about your coworkers with kids5 things to know about your coworkers with kidsYou mightve attended a baby shower in the break room, or maybe you caught a glimpse of a framed baby picture on your colleagues desk. Either way, you know that some of your coworkers have kids- what you dont realize is how their new home lives might affect them in the workplace.A 2011 survey of women in the workplace revealed thatnearly half of moms felt as thoughtheir colleagues without children would never understand the amount of stress they endure- and thats just the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that theres a lot to know about being a working parent, and learning what its like might make you a better boss and colleague. Here are a few of the things theyd most like you to know.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. A rescheduled event could turn their calendars upside-downAs much as wed like our schedules set in stone, the unexpected is bound to happen. In those cases, everyone has to adapt. But regularly changing times and locations for meetings can cause lots of stress for parents. An early-morning meeting might mean they have to find someone to drop the kids off at school, while an after-hours session would require the nanny to stick around longer- if she can.The best way to be considerate of your coworkers is to give as much of a heads up as possible when you need to switch the agreed upon schedule. The more time parents have to reconfigure their timetable, the better.2. Parental leave isnt a walk in the parkAs of 2016, 40 percent of families counted the mom as their main or sole breadwinner, while fathers began to take on more parental responsibilities than in days past. Still, the United States workforce faced a staggering, daunting statistic In a study of 41 nations, it wasthe only one that didnt require parental leave. Some companies might provide it an yway, but its typically a short period thats either unpaid or funded at a fraction of the persons regular paycheck.Regardless, coming back from this leave of absence is extremely hard for new parents. Not only did they just work round-the-clock to adjust to life with a newborn, but they also had to learn to leave their baby behind to go to the office- thats tough. Fathers might notlage even take advantage of this time because they feel as though it makes them appear uncommitted to their jobs.To be a good coworker, encourage your expectant employees to take time off, and go easy on them when they come back. There will be plenty of time for them to ease back into their role.3. Pumping isnt a breakYou might slip out of the office for a coffee while your coworkers-slash-mothers take breaks for an entirely different reason. They have to pump, and they need to find somewhere they can do so comfortably.Dont make the mistake of taking a pump break as an actual break, even if the woman in qu estion has foundways to make pumping at work less stressful. She likely cant eat or relax while performing her routine pump. So, give female employees all the time they need to pump throughout the day so that they feel comfortable and have plenty of nutrition to provide their babies.4. They might band with other parentsYou might notice cliques forming in the office, but not necessarily the wrong kind Once coworkers become parents, they have an in-office ally who can understand their stressors, mishaps, and triumphs. Even though youre a good colleague, you might not be the right person to open up to if you cant relate to their most important responsibility.If youre one of the people in charge, you might see new moms and dads turning to managers who have kids because they, too, can understand the hiccups that come with parenting. Taking a day off to care for a sick child or arriving late thanks to a slow-moving carpool lane will be heard and understood by someone with kids. If a colle ague doesnt confide in you or come to you in times of need, ansicht issues could be why.5. Theyre probably working harder than youThis isnt to say that parents are the only ones working their tails off at the office, but youll probably realize that theyre more efficient than those without kids at home. The reason is very similar to why a canceled or rescheduled meeting is such a big deal to moms and dads They have someone depending on them to be home and present at a specified time.Now, you might start to notice that parents keep their heads down, work through lunch and leave as soon as their eight hours are up. Theyre not being rude or over-eager, they just want to have everything done and be home in time for dinner, baths, and bedtime with their kids. Sometimes, all they get is a little more than an hour for all of that.With these five tidbits in mind, you hopefully have a better understanding of your colleagues with kids. This insight will make you a better, more understanding co worker and friend- theres no better reputation to have as a leader.This article originally appeared on Be Leaderly.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people