Does Ocean State Job Lot pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Ocean State Job Lot employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.9 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Ocean State Job Lot. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Ocean State Job Lot?

38% of Ocean State Job Lot employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Ocean State Job Lot 2.9 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.0 for culture and values and 2.5 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Ocean State Job Lot?

Sales Associate (90) , Front End Supervisor (65) , Department Head (30) , Store Team Leader (29) , Sales Associate/Cashier (27) , Store Manager (26) , Area Supervisor (23) , Cashier (22) , Area Team Leader (18) , Assistant Manager (18) , Field Merchandiser (17) , Operations Supervisor (15) , Retail Sales Associate (12) , Manager (9) , Stock Associate (9)

What are the pros of working at Ocean State Job Lot according to real employee reviews?

"great benefits and always new jobs being offered to existing associates" ((in 61 reviews)); "Coworkers are great and you get 30% off the store" ((in 46 reviews)); "Flexible hours and pretty easy job." ((in 39 reviews)); "We are rapidly expanding and the opportunities are endless with this terrific organization." ((in 14 reviews)); "Work life balance was good" ((in 12 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Ocean State Job Lot according to real employee reviews?

"Management is poor." ((in 58 reviews)); "conflicting instructions from different managers." ((in 33 reviews)); "Bloated upper management that seems to exists solely to usurp direction from other upper management" ((in 16 reviews)); "They give very small raises." ((in 16 reviews)); "No training short staffed more f3" ((in 11 reviews))

What are employees saying about Ocean State Job Lot layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Ocean State Job Lot layoffs and their outlook for job security at Ocean State Job Lot in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Ocean State Job Lot locations?

North Kingstown , Boston , Providence , Warwick , Salem , South Plainfield , Ballston Spa , Clifton Park , New York , Manchester , Berlin , Valatie , Centereach , Poughkeepsie , Concord , Bristol , Cranston , Woonsocket , Medway , Wareham , Weymouth , Southwick , East Northport , North Babylon , Bennington , Rochester , Hooksett , Milford , Bloomfield , Hartford

Ocean State Job Lot reviews

2.9

38% would recommend to a friend

(932 total reviews)

Marc Perlman

34% approve of CEO

35% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.4

Diversity & inclusion

3.0

Culture & values

2.9

Work/Life balance

2.9

Compensation and benefits

2.5

Senior management

2.5

Career opportunities

Ocean State Job Lot has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 932 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Ocean State Job Lot employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.4 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

932 reviews

2.0

May 20, 2021

Not a good place to work

Cashier/front end supervisor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Employee discount Coworkers are usually great

Cons

Cares more about customers than workers you are replaceable Pays less than any other employer in state If you are a go getter you will get more responsibilities without extra pay Fulltime employees take care of their own

Ocean State Job Lot Response

5y

Thank you for the feedback and I'm sorry that we didn't have a chance to discuss your concerns before you left OSJL. We wish you all the best with your next employer.

1.0

Jan 27, 2021

Disgusting selfish greedy ownership

Field merchandiser

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Worked with some good store level people. Uppers are worthless human beings

Cons

Pretty much everything. No problem letting you know you're expendable

Ocean State Job Lot Response

5y

Thank you for the feedback around your experience. I wish we had a chance to discuss your concerns before you left us. We wish you the best of luck in your new career.

1.0

Aug 22, 2020

STAY AWAY

Salaried leader

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

None, used be some. Not even your life insurance is your yearly salary like other companies, it’s just 10k, and 401k is not matched, unlike most companies out there. And they are going to open Thanksgiving and tried to force us to open on Easter!!

Cons

I’ve held it in too long.........They work you to death. If in CT, ZERO HOLIDAY PAY OTHER THEN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS! You work on Thanksgiving. Hourly people zero time and a half for holidays in Ct. OSJL does not care and are not required in CT however just about EVERY SINGLE retail store has several holiday pay. DONT WORRY IF YOU LIVE IN RI, you get the holiday pay. NOT EQUAL TO IS IN CT!!! It’s a 50 work week and the OSJL loves to make you work SIX days a week several times a year other then the required Memorial Day week. Sure they took away the sixth during Black Friday and such, but that’s no bonus, you are killing us!! They do not care if you have no work life balance. You can’t talk to the higher ups because but the district leader will snap at you, so therefore ZERO OPEN DOOR THERE!!! They gets away with it because they have been around a long, long, long time and knows everyone. The turnaround is high with salaried managers. OSJL talks a good game but it’s all bull. We work almost 55 hours or more every single week, just like every other STL. AND ATL. They do not care about your family or how tired you are. Glass door rating is high because they send emails out for the employees to leave a good review! Over 30 years in retail, and NEVER have I seen such lack of attention to holiday pay, working your STL and ATL to death and not to mention, COVID caution is all talk, I can’t tell you how many stores I’ve been in and us employees are constantly filthy dirty, no time to wash up or even eat something, meanwhile the DTL just wants you to work six days for inventory, new store, vacations or if your short handed. He does not care but is quick to mention how he needs to leave and be gone by five so he can spend time with his family. WHAT ABOUT US ??? We need help. Telling us to contact HR to express our concerns is not the answer either, because you guys should of been noticing all this, it’s not a secret, not to mention he has been spoken to in the past of he he treats people and micro manages. Reality is OSJL is not what they preach, unless your part of the DTL’s crew in CT.

Ocean State Job Lot Response

5y

Based upon what you're reporting and the fact that you believe you cannot work with your supervisor, I would ask that you reach out to your regional director or HR business partner. The experience your describing is nothing close to who our team and our company strive to be. We continue to work to improve the work life balance and it seems to be working. In terms of leadership turnover, for our last six years we have shown dramatic improvement each year and for 2019 and thus far in 2020, our rate is well below industry averages. Please reach out and discuss your concerns. Thank you.

Viewing 82 - 84 of 932 Reviews

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