We (team) used to own a computer lab of around 100 machines. That lab was a small 300sqft room with access given only to a few select people. It had two air-conditioners (AC) set to 18 deg Celsius. It used to be really cold and chilly in there.
Whenever I went into the lab I used to turn off one of the ACs so that I would work there without freezing myself. I used to turn the AC back on when leaving the lab.
One evening me and Wally completed some work in the lab and just as we were stepping out of the lab the boss was entering it. We ignored him a usual and didn't start any conversation. Me and Wally then went to the cafeteria to have some snacks and tea. As we were having tea the boss came in to the cafeteria and he joined me and Wally on the snacks table. We were trying our best to ignore him and were talking on topics which will be of least interest to the boss like football etc. As usual the boss had an opinion and he made sure he said it aloud no matter how dumb it may sound to others. Finally the boss was done with his 2nd and 3rd and 4th servings of snacks and we moved to our work area.
As we went near our desk we saw the "big boss" (Boss's boss) standing next to the lab door. He called Wally into the lab.
Big Boss: Come in the lab
Wally: Why is it so hot in here?
Big Boss: Did u turn off the AC ?
Wally: Me and Dilbert left the lab about 30 mins back but we made sure both the ACs were on when leaving..
Big Boss: Then who turned the ACs off?!!!
Wally: Boss entered the lab after us. You should ask him!
Big boss called the Boss into the lab
Boss: (as he entered the lab) it’s so hot here.
Big Boss: Did u turn the AC off?
Boss: Heen ... see... Dilbert has this habit of turning one of the ACs off when working in the lab
Dilbert: Hey! I always turn it on when leaving
Boss: Heen... I think I forgot to turn it on!
I had a habit to turn off only one of the ACs and the boss turned off both of them!!! and then he forgot to start them when leaving the lab ! For 30 mins the lab was without AC and all the 100 machines running it became a preheated oven!!
That day out big boss put up a scotch tape on the AC control box saying.. "ACs need to be kept on all the time.. If you want to turn off the AC contact Big Boss (His name and extension number). It’s a different matter that the scotch tape lost its adhesive in about 2 days :)
Me and Wally continued to turn the AC off when were working in the lab without giving a damn to our Big Boss's orders. However even today the Boss doesn’t dare turn touch those AC switches !