ABSTRACT:
Job stress and presenteeism are critical challenges in the healthcare profession during pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic, as a significant stressor, had broad psychosomatic effects on both personal and organizational levels. As a result, presenteeism may lead to productivity loss, poor health, reduced performance, and increased infection transmission. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19-related job stress on presenteeism among police healthcare workers, considering the moderating role of affective organizational commitment. An internet-based survey using stratified sampling yielded 180 responses from police healthcare professionals. Findings revealed that COVID-19-related stress significantly predicted higher presenteeism. Importantly, affective organizational commitment moderates the behavioral aspect of presenteeism (avoiding distractions), but not the performance aspect (completing tasks). These results emphasize the protective role of affective commitment in buffering the cognitive impact of stress, highlighting its importance in managing healthcare performance during crises.