D P Murphy, owner of the Tim Hortons and Wendys franchises on P.E.I., as well as several hotels, employs about 1,400 Islanders. (Kevin Yarr/CBC)

One of the biggest private employers on P.E.I. has decided to stop hiring young teens.

DP Murphy Inc. owns Tim Hortons, Wendy's, Cold Stone Creamery, and several hotels on the Island. Until recently the company has hired people as young as 12, which is the legal age for starting a job on P.E.I., but the company has decided on a new policy that will end the hiring of 12- to 15-year-olds.

Dianne Griffin, director of human resources for DP Murphy, said the company was finding it challenging to follow the requirements in the Youth Employment Act, which restricts when youth can work and length of shifts.

"No employer can employ a young person between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., and sometimes we require people to come in at five or six o'clock," said Griffin.

"We felt that we would be perhaps in a situation where we might not be able to follow the Youth Employment Act, so we decided to make sure that everybody was protected that we would raise that age to 16."

Griffin said the company has not been cited for any violations.

DP Murphy employs 1,400 Islanders. All current employees under 16 will stay on staff. Griffin said most of those are 14 or 15.