Ocean State Job Lot Adds Workplace Awards to the Cart

Ocean State Job Lot has a very Rhode Island way of being both practical and unpredictable. Its aisles move from everyday errands to “wait, they have that?” discoveries without making a big production of it. Beach umbrellas sit near pantry staples, garden tools, pet treats, and seasonal supplies that remind shoppers what month it is before their calendars do. Now, the North Kingstown-based company is earning national attention for what happens behind those aisles.

Ocean State Job Lot has landed on three national workplace award lists, making it the only company recognized across all three. The closeout retailer earned a spot as a 2026-2027 Best Company to Work For in the Consumer Products category by U.S. News & World Report, ranked among the top 100 winners of the 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards, and was selected as a 2026 US Best Managed Company through a program sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

For a company founded in 1977, the recognition marks more than another corporate milestone. Job Lot now operates 175 stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, employs nearly 7,000 people, and keeps its headquarters in Quonset Point Business Park in North Kingstown. Its reach has grown far beyond Rhode Island, but its roots remain planted here.

The awards look at different pieces of workplace life. U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 1,100 privately held companies and nonprofits, measuring categories including pay and benefits, work-life balance, stability, belonging, comfort, and career growth. Inspiring Workplaces ranked Job Lot first in the Enterprise category for companies with 5,000 or more employees and seventh overall on its top 100 list, with additional recognition for wellbeing, employee voice, inclusion and belonging, and employee experience.

The company also earned its sixth consecutive US Best Managed Company designation and Gold Honoree status, which recognizes private companies with several years of consistent achievement.

“Being recognized for our people-first culture by these esteemed national ranking services is an incredible honor and testament to the fact that our company’s strength is a direct reflection of our workforce,” says Bob Selle, vice president of Ocean State Job Lot. “It is our goal to create a welcoming workplace for people of all abilities and backgrounds, give back to the communities we serve, and continue to grow and evolve with purpose.”

That give-back piece shows up through the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation, which supports causes including hunger relief, veterans and military families, animal rescue, healthcare, the arts, and education.

For shoppers, Job Lot still offers the joy of the unexpected find. For employees, these awards point to a Rhode Island company working to make the workplace feel just as intentional as the deals. Visit oceanstatejoblot.com for more information.