Wow. I can totally relate as what you described above happened to me, too. You’re right: it’s absolutely nightmarish to endure. I had a mediation with my now former employer last week along with my attorney the EEOC mediator and my former employee legal counsel. They said there wasn’t money for the case and that they didn’t consider it “high value” - they offered $1,000 and my attorney got them to $3,000 - their final offer. My lawyer suggested not accepting it and instead continue to negotiate after they submit their “Position Statement” - I can’t afford an individual lawsuit but would love to be part of a class action suit against them. On the other hand, I’m utterly exhausted with all of this and want/need it to end, too. Sigh.