[Secret Agent Man]

That’s part of her mentality but there’s more behind this.

I would bet the business is not doing well and she is taking the stress out on the employee’s small screwup. And/or something has gone on there where she feels the employees don’t respect her enough and she’s being a hard ass to possibly get the ones she doesn’t like to get in line or quit. Her reaction is emotional to punish, not logical or financial, as getting a cheap programmable thermostat would solve the problem. A person who just wants to make sure the heat isn’t left on would just get a programmable thermostat and take the issue out of everyone’s hands, no more problem. She is ‘teaching them a lesson.’

There is more to it.

[HardStarboard]

My guess is she wouldn't know a progammable thermostat from a pizza pan. She probably doesn't own the building so has no say about the thermostat.

I think your overanalyzing. She's a first class....bad employer.

...read "bitzh" for "bad employer".

[neb52]

“There is more to it.”

I have stepped into businesses and meet small business owners that you could tell were the type that strove to be cheap and ultra frugal for the sake of doing so. There drive to be cheap was so much that they were blinded by the fact that their behavior was causing an inverse affect on their revenue and thus losing money. But they couldn’t see that, but only saw that they were losing money and felt they had to cut even more costs.