'Garden variety discrimination' lost: Investigation reveals the secret way complaints are handled

What if we told you the commission charged with routing out workplace discrimination has a secret it's not telling anyone.

A grading system that can mean prioritizing “sizzle” or “hot button” cases over Black or brown workers. An "A, B, C" system that focuses on some cases first, leaving others behind. One that incentivizes, among the sea of discrimination claims, the quick-solves.

The newest installment of USA TODAY's investigation of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission drops this week. USA TODAY obtained a slice of the agency's internal tracking data, and the information provides a window into the highest priority cases from September 2019 to August 2020. 

That data, plus interviews and more deep reporting, are available to subscribers here.

 Past installments of this investigation: 

• In April, USA TODAY reported on EEOC’s own employees alleging discrimination in the workplace – including around Black Lives Matter messaging.
• In May, EEOC’s chairwoman Charlotte Burrows ordered a review of the agency’s work climate in the wake of USA TODAY’s reporting.

Plus, check out more of the latest investigations from USA TODAY:

• Fake diplomas. Prostitution arrests. Forged documents. Massage schools accused of feeding illegal business in the US.
• Homes destroyed. Neighbors perished. Now, Surfside survivors face insurance companies.
• Conservatives want to ban transgender athletes from girls sports. Their evidence is shaky.
• After repeated ATF warnings, gun dealers can count on the agency to back off; sometimes firearms flow to criminals.

We want to hear from you: Do you have an experience to share about the EEOC? Email us below.

Nick Penzenstadler is a federal government reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team, focusing primarily on firearms and consumer financial protection. Contact him at npenz@usatoday.com or @npenzenstadler, or on Signal at (720) 507-5273.