This position requires a man of considerable firmness, as he comes in contact with every employee, and is bound to enforce the discipline of the house as applied to absentees and lates, regardless of any partiality or favoritism. He has direct charge of the cloakrooms, and must see that they are kept neat and clean, and that each individual has a certain space allotted. He should be on duty early and late, and should see that every one registers their time in passing in and out. A record of all employees going out on passes should be kept, and none should be accepted unless signed by those authorized. He should keep a record of employees' names and addresses, and have the same checked up regularly. He should supply wages department and also heads of departments with a report of all who are absent. Where so many are under the charge of heads of departments, it is impossible for them to tell at once who may be absent. The time-keeper should notify them promptly every morning and noon, and they will thus be enabled to arrange immediately, so that the work done by absentees is provided for. He should not allow parcels of any kind to be carried in or out of the store, nor allow anyone to reËnter the store after passing the time desk in going out, or return to the cloakrooms after passing the time desk going in.

As part of the store help must go to dinner at one hour and part at another, he should regulate it so that those who go out one hour are back in their departments before others are notified, thus preventing crowding on stairways and passages. Departments are usually notified by bells, and each is familiar with its particular signal. Doors should be closed sharp on the minute, and all lates excluded. No matter what system for registering time is used, it is easy to determine who is late or absent, as on coming in all keys or time cards hanging on the time board are on one side of the time clock, and when the time is registered they are hung on the opposite side. Those which have not been removed indicate at once who has not come in. Time cards of any absent, who have not sent in a reason for absence, should be removed from the time board and such employees should secure permission from those authorized before their time can be again marked. Lists of those going on holidays should be supplied time-keeper, and their cards should also be removed. The time-keeper should supply the wages department with correct time sheets, as desired. He should see that employees are orderly in passing in and out, and permit no loitering in the cloakrooms. A register is usually placed at the exit door, which should be signed by one appointed for each department or section of the store when leaving at night, certifying that all persons have left their department, and that all windows are secured, blinds down, etc.