This study attempts to explore the influences of leader-member exchange (LMX) and role expectation difference on presenteeism. By doing so, we can learn how to lower employee likelihood of being presenteeism, which further reduces employees’ depressed working attitude and psychological issues. This study drew sample from 40 fire service units in the middle zone of Taiwan. Five firefighters and their immediate supervisor were invited to participate in the survey. Total sample includes 40 supervisor questionnaires and 199 subordinate questionnaires. This study employs fuzzy-set quantitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA) to confirm the causal configurations of LMX and role expectation leading to low presenteeism. The findings indicate that LMX’s affect, contribution, and professional respect dimensions, rather than loyalty, are one of sufficient conditions leading to low presenteeism. Role expectation congruence is also one of sufficient conditions leading to low presenteeism. Moreover, performance type of role expectation difference can solely cause employees to have lower levels of presenteeism. This study expects to provide suggestions relevant to motivating and training employees as well as establishing regulations for fire department.
