Ocean State Job Lot adds surcharge to increase pay, gives wage increase, revises hours for cleaning, at risk customers

Ocean State Job Lot is making changes due to COVID-19.

According to Principal Owner and CEO Marc Perlman, the company has increased pay for workers by $2 per hour. Associates can also purchase anything in the store at 30% off. OSJL is also adding a 2% surcharge on all merchandise sold, all of which will be paid to store associates as a bonus in addition to the $2 per hour mentioned. Customers may decline to pay the 2% surcharge.

OSJL has also adjusted store hours to allow more time to clean and restock shelves. Stores are now open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stores are also hosting a shopping hour for those at higher risk, including customers ages 60+, every Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

According to the company, Ocean State Job Lot has also delivered $275,000 worth of food to twenty organizations in the past seven days.

Using the $250,000 OSJL has already donated, and the dollars contributed by customers, the company is also purchasing over one million masks. One hundred percent of them will be donated to hospitals and first responders, according to Perlman.