Prof. dr. Robert Kaše received the award for the article titled Do employees find inclusive talent management fairer? It depends. Contrasting self-interest and principle, published in the Human Resource Management Journal. The research focuses on the perception of inclusive talent management and finds that employees perceive the fairness of such practices based on personal interests and principles. The article offers companies insights on how to develop more effective and fair talent management strategies.

Article: https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12501

Prof. dr. Igor Lončarski received the award for the article titled Sustainability and Sovereign Credit Risk, published in the International Review of Financial Analysis. The article explores the connection between sustainability factors, such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices at the corporate level, and various measures of country risk. The analysis shows that more pronounced sustainability practices are negatively correlated with country risk—countries that are more sustainability-oriented have lower credit risk premiums. While this suggests potential long-term benefits of sustainability policies for national economies and investors, the authors cannot directly confirm causality between a country's sustainability orientation and country risk, as there is a significant impact from the development and wealth of countries on sustainability practices.

Prof. dr. Miroslav Verbič received the Recognition for Outstanding Research Achievements from the University of Ljubljana in 2024 for his contributions under the collective title From Crisis to Prosperity: How Coordinated Economic Policies Shape Our Future. The contributions demonstrate how challenges faced by companies in securing financing during times of financial uncertainty can intensify the decline in economic activity. They reveal that banks become more cautious not only due to profit concerns but primarily due to increased financial risks. This insight is particularly important in light of recent global financial pressures and the need for resilient banking practices. The contributions also analyze how central bank measures and government decisions on spending and taxation affect economic growth and inflation. While raising interest rates may help control inflation, it can simultaneously slow down economic growth. On the other hand, appropriate fiscal policies can provide immediate support to the economy, highlighting the importance of well-coordinated economic policy measures.

Prof. dr. Matej Černe received the award for the article titled Job demands and burnout: the multilevel boundary conditions of collective trust and competitive pressure, published in Human Relations. The article analyzes the connection between job demands and burnout, examining how collective trust within teams reduces the effect of burnout, while competitive pressures increase the psychological strain on employees. The research offers practical guidelines for creating a work environment that promotes the psychological well-being of employees.