Can supportive management contribute to the well being of Muslim working women in Malaysia?

The trend of married working women in Malaysia will become an increasingly common scenario. This is because the current statistics show that women comprise 50% of the workforce, and that 70% of them are married working women. Hence, bringing more women into the workplace is not a choice but a necessity for economic and global competition. Nevertheless, many studies in both the West and the East have only emphasized the negative implications of womenʹs involvement in the workplace on their family, in relation to work family conflict issues. However, from the Islamic perspective, womenʹs contribution as a worker has been emphasized in all Muslims teachings. This paper presents the results of a study that observed the relationship of work family enrichment of administrators with work family conflict. The data was collected using questionnaires distributed personally to the respondents at their respective workplace. It was found that there is a significant relationship between work family conflict and work family enrichment. Furthermore, a supportive work environment has positive implications for both work and their family. Finally, the paper will discuss the various obstacles faced and the strategies related to more comprehensive and effective family friendly policies in an effort to enhance womenʹs productive participation in the labour force as well as to create a balance between the work and family.