Accepting one fellowship but leaving for another?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, BigBen asks:

Here is a hypothetical situation: you apply for more than one postdoctoral fellowships with proposals on distinct topics, get selected in one, and accept the offer. After you join, the other fellowship, which is way better than the first (e.g., gives you more freedom to conduct your own research without interference, provides funds for conference travel and to organize workshops, etc.) comes through.

What do you do? Do you simple leave the first one for the second one, which may mean that the employer may have to go through the whole process of recruiting again, or worse, they may not hire anyone else for the position? How much do the employer's feelings matter? Are there questions answerable?

Good questions, and I'll be curious to hear what everyone thinks. The general consensus on similar topics discussed here in the past (e.g., leaving one job for another) seems to have been that employers don't have any right to your employment, and it's fine to do what's best for one's career. Also, given that fellowships are temporary and the OP is presumably still after permanent academic employment, if the second fellowship seems more advantageous than the first in terms of flourishing in their career, then why not move?

But these are just a few quick thoughts. What are yours?

Comments

[TT]

In relation to BigBen's question, what about the case of TT jobs as well? Is it acceptable (or even legal) to turn down an accepted job for another better one before even starting the first?

[Job]

As Marcus notes, this is a job market. You have to act in your self-interest. But do nto expect your former employer - the post-doc position you are leaving - to support you in the future. S/he may feel you have let them down, or they cannot count on you. But that might matter little, if the other job is so much better.

[anon]

Absolutely go with the better one, if you must choose.

(I say "if" because I know of some cases of people holding multiple post-docs at the same time.)

[Bill Vanderburgh]

Leaving a job you have accepted, even started, is an inconvenience to the hiring department. But it is your life, career, and happiness.

In a purely utilitarian calculation, the answer is obvious.

Construed as a conflict of duties, your duty to maximize your own self-development, promote your own flourishing and fulfillment, even your duty to make your career as good as it can be for the sake of the profession, etc., clearly trumps the duty to avoid inconveniences for others, especially for large organizations that don't particularly care for their individual members, especially very junior ones. (You could construe accepting a job as making a promise, but I don't think that is the right framing. Employment contracts are generally only valid until one party backs out.)

Give as much notice as you can, be polite and perhaps apologetic to avoid burning bridges, but no one owns your labor. You could also share the conditions of the second appointment that make it preferable for you--that might show the first hiring department that they are not offering a market-competitive package.

[Postdoc with only one offer]

In contrast to the above I think that this might depend somewhat on how much better the second position is. Leaving a postdoc for a TT, no one will blame you. Leaving a VAP for a 2 year postdoc, no one will blame you. Leaving a 2 year postdoc for a 5 year postdoc, no one will blame you. Leaving a 2 year postdoc for a 3 year one, probably no one will blame you. Leaving one 2 year postdoc for another 2 year postdoc with slightly better conditions (workshop and travel funding only?) might not be perceived so favourably.

Sure you should be a utilitarian here. But the inconvenience/cost to the first employer is not zero, so if the benefit to you is very small you maybe you should stay. Of course if the benefit to you is large enough then you should move, but I don't think you should entirely ignore the inconvenience/costs to the other parties (or how they might feel about you later).