Enabler or inhibitor? The effect of AI crafting on presenteeism among medical staff

New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are continuously reshaping traditional work patterns and behaviours, especially in the medical field. However, there is a scarcity of academic research on the impact of job crafting within the AI technical environment on medical staff presenteeism, despite this demographic being one of the most highly-represented groups for presenteeism. A longitudinal cross-lagged panel model was used to investigate the influencing mechanism of AI crafting on presenteeism among medical professionals, resulting in 225 matched datasets across three waves. Employee AI crafting was found to reduce individual presenteeism by promoting thriving at work, and leader AI crafting further enhanced this enabler mechanism. Meanwhile, employee AI job crafting increased presenteeism by increasing technostress, however leader AI crafting acted to alleviate this inhibitor mechanism. These findings deepen our understanding of the causal mechanisms of presenteeism in the context of an ever-changing AI technical environment, and provide new insights for management practices.