Better memory, greater motivation and concentration lead to greater productivity, efficiency and performance, all of which are features that are highly valued in a modern society focused on productivity. In the effort for better cognitive abilities, otherwise healthy individuals use cognitive enhancers (also known as nootropics), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, stroke, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ageing. The use of these is more common in professions with emphasised cognitive abilities, or in occupations that require more attention, focus and alertness. Their use is also associated with the general working population, in that they are supposed to use them to alleviate the effects of sleep deprivation and to cope with increasing workloads. In the paper, we are addressing the ethical issue and the dilemmas of the use of pharmaceutical enhancements by healthy people who have no medical reason for taking such substances, in the context of improving their cognitive functions.

In an effort for better memory, greater motivation, and concentration, otherwise healthy individuals use pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers (PCEs), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, to achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and performance. We examined the use of PCEs among 289 students at the Slovenian Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the behavioral and psychosocial context (students’ attitudes towards study, parents, health, leisure time, and work). Furthermore, we also addressed the immediate reasons, or the hypothesized connections of behavioral and psychosocial aspects, related to PCE misuse. The study consisted of a structured questionnaire, and chi-squared tests were used. An analysis of student statements revealed differences in students’ and parents’ attitudes toward good academic grades. In addition, students chose among 17 values related to relationships with parents, friends, partners, careers, study obligations, leisure, hobbies, material goods, appearance, and the future, and assessed their importance. Regardless of the group they belonged to, young people cited the same values among the most important. Good grades and parental opinions have proven to be key factors in the context of PCE abuse. This research was the first study to examine the relation between PCE misuse and the role of different behavioral and psychosocial factors.

Many companies and organizations in the labor market are facing “War for talents”. In order to acquire new, and retain existing employees, and, at the same time, to be considered the best employer on the market, more and more organizations are building and managing their own brand of employer. The employer’s branding is most often associated with the activities of Mar­keting and Human Resources management experts; but, in practice, it often turns out that in the process, an indispensable partner in building the employ­er’s branding is ignored, i.e. communication experts. Therefore, in this article, we defend the position that employer branding is also a communication skill, which, however, needs to be adapted to the current situation in these turbu­lent times associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes digitizing and adapting employer branding communication to both the needs of target groups and the requirements of digital processes. Therefore, the paper exam­ined the societal change in work norms caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, to contribute to a more successful and efficient branding of the modern employ­er as a form of strategic communication in both the virtual and hybrid work environments.

Police work is constantly at the forefront of media coverage and public interest – there are only few State Institutions that are subject to as much media and public attention as the police. Public relations, therefore, shape its image importantly, and, at the same time, differ from the public relations in public administration and the private sector due to its specific nature. The article discusses the work of Slovenian police communication experts, their position and status, as well as their position in comparison with their foreign colleagues, and communicators in the public and private sectors. We examined the content and systemic limitations of Slovenian police communication experts and found that they are faced with lack of media experience, appropriate education and knowledge of contemporary skills. Key reasons for this situation are several: An inadequate staffing policy, organisation, implementation of public relations and lack of employee training. These limitations are also the main factors why police communication experts devote most of their time to the technical level of public relations, even if, for higher quality and modern public relations, they should act more often in a strategic role.

Background In an effort for better memory, greater motivation and concentration, otherwise healthy individuals use Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancers (PCE), medicines for the treatment of cognitive deficits of patients with various disorders and health problems, to achieve greater productivity, efficiency, and performance. Methods In our study, we examined the use of PCE use among 289 students at the Slovenian Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the behavioral and psychosocial context (students’ attitudes towards study, parents, health, leisure time and work). Furthermore, we addressed also the immediate reasons, or the hypothesized connections of behavioral and psychosocial aspects, related to PCE misuse. The study consisted of a structured questionnaire, and the chi-square tests were used. Results An analysis of student statements revealed differences in students` and parents` attitudes toward good academic grades. In addition, students chose among 17 values relating to relationships with parents, friends, partners, careers, study obligations, leisure, hobbies, material goods, appearance and the future, and assessed their importance. Regardless of the group they belonged to, young people cited the same values among the most important. Good grades and parental opinions have proven to be key factors in the context of PCE abuse. Conclusions This research was the first study to examine the relation between PCE misuse and the role of different behavioral and psychosocial factors. However, the further research is needed, both on the actual effects of PCE on healthy people, as well as on continuing research towards behavioral and psychosocial factors.