Ocean State Job Lot Honored with 2025 Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces Award
Designation marks the third year in a row that OSJL has been included in prestigious list; retailer also earned its fourth North America Inspiring Workplaces award in June
North Kingstown, R.I. – September 8, 2025 — Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 176 stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, is proud to announce that it was named as one of the Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces for the third year in a row, on Friday, September 5th.
The Inspiring Workplaces Group’s annual 2025 Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces list is comprised of organizations across Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, North America, and the UK and Ireland that have demonstrated a genuine commitment to building positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace cultures, where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive.
Companies were evaluated in six main categories: Culture and Purpose; Leadership; Wellbeing; Inclusion & Belonging; Employee Voice; and Employee Experience. Ocean State Job Lot joins a host of well-known brands named on the list including: Sony Music UK, Siemens Energy, Equifax Canada, Staples Canada, and The Nature Conservancy.
“We are proud to once again be named to the Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces list for the third year in a row,” said Bob Selle, Vice President – People and Risk, Ocean State Job Lot. “This designation underscores Job Lot’s people-first culture and dedication to creating a workplace in which our associates feel empowered and valued. We are incredibly thankful for their dedication and hard work to provide exceptional value to our customers, uplift our communities, and inspire the company’s continued evolution.”
OSJL’s commitment to enhancing the employee experience includes offering comprehensive benefits such as competitive wages, healthcare, retirement plans, and unique perks like a profit participation program, access to two OSJL-owned condominiums and RVs for use on vacations, and “wellness days” on top of paid sick leave. By continuously improving working conditions and supporting its workforce, OSJL ensures a positive, productive environment for its employees.
The company’s Mission, Vision, Values underscores an unyielding commitment to associates, strengthening a culture of inclusivity and diversity, where people are treated with integrity and deep respect; exciting career journeys to help associates grow and reach their full potential; and a focus on wellbeing both inside and outside of work.
In addition to this global award, OSJL was named a five-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a five-time U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte, one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024 by Newsweek, and a five-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award.
About Inspiring Workplaces™:
Inspiring Workplaces is headquartered in the UK and operates in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Asia and Australasia. Inspiring Workplaces™ believes in recognizing and helping to shape the forward-thinking organizations of the future that put their people first. By shedding light on these innovative workplaces, Inspiring Workplaces helps to encourage positive change by providing a source of inspiration and education for others who seek it. For more information, please visit www.inspiring-workplaces.com.
About Ocean State Job Lot:
Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 176 stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, nearly 7,000 employees, and annual sales exceeding $850 million. OSJL shoppers find an ever-changing array of brand-name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price.
The company was named a five-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a five-time U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte, one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024 by Newsweek, a five-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award, and a three-time Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner. Ocean State Job Lot is not affiliated with Forbes®.
The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts, and promoting learning. The Foundation’s operational, administrative and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot, not the Foundation, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised through the Foundation goes directly to helping those in need.
