Canceling contract in the first week

[yugi_oh]

Hi,

Please consider these points:
- I have the possibility to sign a short-term (few months) contract with somewhere on 1st of October. This contract might lead to my PhD position in a few months. These are both in areas that I am absolutely passionate about and the place that I can sign the contract is the best place for that.
- At the same time I have a PhD position in another country in the same research area which I might not be able to go due to several family issues and personal reasons but it is not decided yet (will be decided in 1st week of October).

If I don't sign the contract and I get to stay in Finland, I miss my chance to pursue my passion in the best place. So, Is it super immoral and unethical if I sign the fixed-term contract with and in case my issues for moving to another country is solved, then I cancel the contract and leave? Is it even possible to cancel a fixed-term contract for no reason?

Please give me a solution

[Beep_Boop]

Morality is subjective. No point in asking strangers online to be your moral compass.
Ethically speaking, you will probably have an impact on your employer by doing this. Doing it intentionally poses an ethical question. Now here's the thing: The impact on your employer would already be minimal because you'd be there for one week. You're not expect to carry the whole research department on your back in one week. So leaving after one week isn't that bad. Yes, the employer might have hoped that you'd do research and stuff, but any decent employer has a contingency plan in case something unexpected happens.
Weigh that in against your dreams, you can see even though you're doing it intentionally, you're not doing it out of malice. You want what's best for employer, but also what is best for you.

Looking at this objectively, I'd say the impact on you is significantly higher if you miss a good opportunity than on your employer if they lose you after a week. I'd conclude that ethics are on your side here.
As for the reason, well it's up to you. You can either invent a reason and be done with it, or be honest with your employer. If your employer hold it against you because you followed your dream, then they're not professional.

Out of interest, if you really want to know what I'd personally do, I'll answer you with my own subjective opinion. I wouldn't give it a second thought. I wouldn't care one bit. I'd take the position, and leave in a week if I have to. Wouldn't mention it in my CV, and that'd be the end of it.

(note: there might be a different legal aspect to this. As far as I know, you can legally cancel the contract depending on the trial period terms)

[rinso]

The impact on your employer would already be minimal because you'd be there for one week. You're not expect to carry the whole research department on your back in one week. So leaving after one week isn't that bad. Yes, the employer might have hoped that you'd do research and stuff, but any decent employer has a contingency plan in case something unexpected happens.

If you quit after one week the schedule for the research project will probably be ruined. It can have severe consequences if there is external funding involved or it is cinchonized with other projects. Although this might not be the case for a short contract. But cancelling after a week will give you a bad reputation and that might hunt you in the future.
It all depends how much risk you want to take and how accurate your information over the family thing is. Nobody can make that decision for you.

[yugi_oh]

Thank you both for sharing your insight and perspective. My reputation aside, I like Finns (at least those that I have been in contact with) so much that it's very difficult for me to hurt them even a bit. They are always so honest that I know I will feel bad about this for a long time. It's by far the hardest decision that I've had to make.

[inkku]

Fixed term contract is legally binding

[betelgeuse]

So, Is it super immoral and unethical if I sign the fixed-term contract with and in case my issues for moving to another country is solved, then I cancel the contract and leave? Is it even possible to cancel a fixed-term contract for no reason?

It depends on the terms of the contract. If it doesn't have a trial period, you are not allowed to cancel. You are not allowed to give notice either unless specified in the contract.

[Beep_Boop]

My reputation aside, I like Finns (at least those that I have been in contact with) so much that it's very difficult for me to hurt them even a bit.

So your morality depends on tbe race of people you're dealing with. Such a nice and ethical person you are. Top of the line!
If your research colleagues were Italians, then f*ck them.. right?

[leisl]

PhD is a small world in most fields, signing and breaking a contract is an ill-advised move and your name will be mud. Word gets around. This won't be forgotten. I don't know whether you already have a PhD in some other field already, but it's almost incestuous, the networking is global and very much a who-knows-who. You burn a bridge like that, you might also be chased legally.

The correct move is to sign nothing until you know where you will be. There will be other positions. This is not an A vs B debate where you will have zero options if you don't go ahead. Don't sign the Finnish contract. Sort out the other things in your life, then if you can't make the PhD position in the other country, move forward from there. You are clearly highly qualified already and will be able to find work.

[yugi_oh]

So your morality depends on tbe race of people you're dealing with. Such a nice and ethical person you are. Top of the line!
If your research colleagues were Italians, then f*ck them.. right?

It actually depends on the person. I am in Finland so I am dealing with the Finns mostly and high probably most of my supervisors are Finns too. I have had Italian colleagues researcher who used to steal food without paying at the counter (not once or twice, but whenever possible for her; sometimes she used to wait and waste some time with her phone to find the proper timing). I am not saying all Italians are thief, but my morality towards "her" specifically, is of course different from my Finnish supervisor which is a very nice guy.

[yugi_oh]

PhD is a small world in most fields, signing and breaking a contract is an ill-advised move and your name will be mud. Word gets around. This won't be forgotten. I don't know whether you already have a PhD in some other field already, but it's almost incestuous, the networking is global and very much a who-knows-who. You burn a bridge like that, you might also be chased legally.

The correct move is to sign nothing until you know where you will be. There will be other positions. This is not an A vs B debate where you will have zero options if you don't go ahead. Don't sign the Finnish contract. Sort out the other things in your life, then if you can't make the PhD position in the other country, move forward from there. You are clearly highly qualified already and will be able to find work.

Thank you for the advice. I do not have a PhD and I am not involved with one at the moment. Because I just want to start my PhD in this area otherwise I could've started my PhD in other areas in very high rank university.
Anyways, I decided to talk to my supervisor to see if he can postpone the project for a month. If not , I will wait for another chance in my life.

[leisl]

Anyways, I decided to talk to my supervisor to see if he can postpone the project for a month. If not , I will wait for another chance in my life.