Maine panel: Shaw's firings discriminated against older workers when it laid off hundreds

The Maine Human Rights Commission says three women were discriminated against because of their age when Shaw's supermarkets laid off hundreds of workers three years ago.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1JMhWnK ) reports the commission ruled on Monday that the supermarket chain's actions in 2012 unfairly affected older workers. The commission voted unanimously that the company discriminated against the three workers because a policy decision to lay off only full-time employees primarily affected older workers.

The commission also says Shaw's did not engage in age discrimination in the way it treated the three workers. Maine law says the commission can differentiate between treating someone in a discriminatory way and enacting policies that result in discrimination.

Shaw's did not respond to a request for comment.