A regional manager and large Subway franchise owner who allegedly stiffed workers out of $38 million has quit the company.
Subway initially stood behind Chirayu Patel, who oversaw approximately 1,000 restaurants in Northern California, despite court documents that claimed he underpaid almost 3,000 employees.
Patel will continue to own 15 restaurants as a franchise owner but will not work at Subway’s headquarters.
According to a message sent to employees at the restaurants he managed, Patel claimed he was leaving to spend more time with his family.
“Last year despite all the challenges we faced in our industry it was eye opening for me,” he said in the email. “It showed me the importance of being a good father and nothing should be more important than family.”
Patel settled the workers’ lawsuit earlier this year after claiming he couldn’t afford to pay the workers any more than the settlement that was reached on July 30. A payout that amounted to $188 per worker, or $550,000, according to court filings.
