Pros
When I first came to Ocean State, I had done some research and I had found that their values aligned with my own, but I was blown away at how true we are to our values we are quietly one of the most charitable companies I have ever seen. As far as the work goes, this is no average retail. Store leaders are given quite a bit of control when it comes to the staffing and merchandising of their location. Leaders truly have a sense of "owning" their store. ALL employees truly "own" their career paths as well, Leadership shows an honest interest in helping their teams achieve career goals and there are so many special projects or assignments available for those that want to get involved in things like charity work, associate wellness, etc. Associates are treated with respect, their input is always included in decisions and their safety and happiness are daily focuses. There is also a strong sense of job security, OSJL was an incredibly strong company that showed incredible reaction time and opportunistic procurement throughout the pandemic. While many companies shuttered doors, we opened them! I never thought, while filling out that application, that I would find a place that I feel so at home, but here I am.
Cons
As with any retail job there are common annoyances; people call out, equipment breaks, last minute changes happen. At Ocean State, though, I feel considerably more supported during those times than I have anywhere else.