The Commandment in Genesis 20:10 spells out the Sabbath rule. "But the seventh day is a sabbath to [the holy name]; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns"
There seems to be a streak of moral fairness here: don't work on the seventh day, and don't use your power over others to force them to work either. Everybody enjoys a day of rest, migrant workers and beasts of burden included!
How strong is this sort of ethical argument against hacks like Shabbat elevators?
"By consuming electricy needlessly we compel some electric-utility workers to be on the job, and we fail to give Creation a much-needed tiny bit of rest."
I know there must be some conversation among observant Jews about this kind of thing as it relates to the ancient commandments. How does it go?