Tropical Smoothie is a popular chain of smoothie and sandwich shops with locations across the United States. The company was founded in 1997 in Destin, Florida and has grown to over 900 locations in 45 states today. Tropical Smoothie is known for its tropical-inspired smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads, and more. If you are interested in working at Tropical Smoothie in Michigan, you may be wondering – what is the minimum age to be hired?
Tropical Smoothie’s Minimum Age to Be Hired in Michigan
The minimum age to be hired at Tropical Smoothie locations in Michigan is 16 years old. This is the standard minimum age set at all Tropical Smoothie locations across the country. Under federal and Michigan state labor laws, 16 is the lowest age that a business can legally hire employees for most typical hourly jobs. This includes positions like team members, cashiers, and shift leads at Tropical Smoothie shops.
Here are some key facts about the minimum age requirements at Tropical Smoothie in Michigan:
- Must be at least 16 years old to work any position with Tropical Smoothie in Michigan
- There may be limited opportunities for 14-15 year olds in certain roles
- Federal and Michigan law set 16 as the standard minimum age for employment
- This age requirement applies across all Tropical Smoothie locations in the state
- Age verification and proof of being 16+ is required during the hiring process
While 16 is the overall standard, there can be some exceptions that allow 14-15 year olds to be employed in limited capacities. For example, some franchised Tropical Smoothie locations may allow 14-15 year olds to work as hosts, bussers, or in other very limited front-of-house roles. However, these opportunities are not guaranteed and depend on the specific franchise location.
Federal and Michigan Laws on Minimum Employment Age
The reason Tropical Smoothie sets 16 as their standard minimum hiring age in Michigan is because of federal and state labor laws. The key regulations that set baseline age requirements for employment include:
- Federal Fair Labor Standards Act – establishes 16 as the general minimum age for employment in non-hazardous jobs for unlimited hours. Sets 14-15 as the minimum age for limited non-hazardous work.
- Michigan Youth Employment Standards Act – reflects the federal standards, setting the typical minimum hiring age at 16 for unlimited non-hazardous employment.
Under these laws, 16 years old is seen as the general threshold when teenage workers can take on standard hourly employment. Jobs like those at Tropical Smoothie are considered permissible for 16+ teens for unlimited hours. Some exceptions exist for 14-15 year olds in certain occupations, but their working hours are restricted.
For hazardous occupations like manufacturing or construction, the minimum age is 18 at both the federal and state level. But food service jobs like those at Tropical Smoothie are categorized as non-hazardous, so the minimum stays at 16 in Michigan.
Work Hour Restrictions for 14-15 Year Olds
While Tropical Smoothie primarily hires 16+ year olds, they may consider limited employment of 14-15 year olds on occasion. However, federal and Michigan laws place strict hourly restrictions on workers under 16. Here are the limits in place if Tropical Smoothie locations do hire workers 14-15 years old:
- No more than 6 days per week
- No more than 8 hours per day
- No more than 40 hours per week
- Only between 7am-7pm during school year
- Not during school hours
Tropical Smoothie franchises must abide by these maximum hour standards when considering 14-15 year old applicants. They cannot have them work over these hourly limits. The limited hours make most Tropical Smoothie locations hesitate to hire workers under 16.
Tropical Smoothie Hiring Process and Requirements
If you meet the minimum age requirement, here is an overview of what to expect in the Tropical Smoothie Michigan hiring process:
- Submit an online application including your basic personal details, work history, availability, etc.
- If selected, you will come in for 1-2 in-person interviews at the Tropical Smoothie location.
- Must provide proof of age during the hiring process (driver’s license, birth certificate, etc).
- If offered a job, you’ll fill out tax forms, employment paperwork, and pass a background check.
- Participate in a brief company and location orientation session.
- Train on food preparation, smoothie making, cashier duties, and safety/cleaning procedures.
In addition to meeting the 16+ age policy, Tropical Smoothie also looks for:
- Availability matching their open shifts.
- Customer service attitude and communication skills.
- Ability to handle food preparation and cashier tasks.
- Dependability and teamwork.
No prior food service or smoothie experience is required. Tropical Smoothie provides on-the-job training to new hires. Just meet the age policy, exhibit a positive attitude, and be ready to learn!
Typical Tropical Smoothie Hours and Schedules
Since Tropical Smoothie caters to the breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowds, store hours are longer and schedules can vary. Here are some details on typical shifts and store operation hours in Michigan:
- Open daily from around 7:30am to 9:00pm.
- Peak hours are mornings until 11am; lunch from 11am to 2pm; and evenings 5pm to 8pm.
- Most locations are open 7 days per week.
- Shifts are typically 5-8 hours in length.
- Must be available to work weekends and peak hours.
- Schedules are posted 2 weeks in advance.
Employees under 18 may not work past 9pm in Michigan. Tropical Smoothie accommodates school schedules when possible and offers increased hours during the summer if desired.
Pay Rate and Benefits
Here is an overview of the typical pay structure and benefits available at Tropical Smoothie in Michigan for qualified employees:
- Hourly Pay Rate – Starts around $9-12 per hour depending on location.
- Tips – Employees may keep any tips earned.
- Pay Schedule – Bi-weekly paychecks via direct deposit or paycard.
- Benefits – Employee discount on drinks and food, free drinks during shift, and paid vacation/sick days for full-time staff.
- Bonuses – Some franchises offer hiring bonuses, performance bonuses, or referral bonuses.
- No Health Insurance – Tropical Smoothie does not provide health insurance, even for full-timers.
Pay rates are re-evaluated periodically and increased based on performance and tenure. Tropical Smoothie aims to provide pay and benefits that are competitive with similar smoothie and food service positions in Michigan.
Opportunities for Advancement
Although entry-level Tropical Smoothie jobs like team member and shift lead start at 16 in Michigan, employees have room to advance as they gain experience. Some advancement opportunities include:
- Trainer – Help train new hires after demonstrating product and process knowledge.
- Supervisor – Take on more responsibility for opening/closing shifts and monitoring workflow.
- Assistant Manager – Manage teams, orders, and operations under the direction of the General Manager.
- General Manager – Oversee the full store with hiring, inventory, promotions, and profit responsibility.
- District or Regional Manager – Manage multiple store locations and business development.
Hard-working team members who show leadership qualities can move up the management ladder. Some franchise owners also encourage employees to discuss opening their own franchised location one day.
Tips for Applying at 16
If you’re 16 or older and want to pursue a job at Tropical Smoothie in Michigan, here are some tips:
- Apply online and emphasize open availability, especially on weekends and in mornings/evenings.
- Highlight any previous work experience like babysitting, lawn mowing, tutoring, volunteering, clubs, or sports teams.
- Note any food handling experience like cooking, grocery shopping, or helping at family restaurants.
- Come prepared for the interview – dress appropriately, bring copies of your ID for age verification, shake hands, make eye contact.
- Convey your motivation to learn and interest in advancing at Tropical Smoothie.
- After being hired, complete training fully, follow rules consistently, and display a team attitude.
With over 600 locations nationwide, Tropical Smoothie presents plenty of opportunities for dedicated workers who start with the company at 16. Gain skills in customer service, food prep, and operations – and you could move up within management in the years ahead.
Conclusion
At 16 years old, you can begin working at Tropical Smoothie shops across Michigan. This meets federal and state labor laws setting 16 as the standard minimum age for employment. While limited opportunities for 14-15 year olds exist per child labor regulations, Tropical Smoothie preferentially hires those 16 and up. This allows teens to take on more hours and greater responsibilities within the stores. For motivated individuals, Tropical Smoothie offers the chance to turn an entry-level hourly job into longer-term management career prospects. So if you meet the minimum age policy and like the idea of blending smoothies and advancing through the ranks, apply at your local Tropical Smoothie franchise in Michigan today.
