But to many Levi 's workers, the company's image hasn't fit for some time. In 1992, the company directed its U.S. plants to abandon the old piecework system, under which a worker repeatedly performed a single, specialized task (like sewing zippers or attaching belt loops) and was paid according to the amount of work he or she completed. In the new system, groups of 10 to 35 workers would share the tasks, and would be paid according to the total number of trousers the group completed. Levi's figured that this would cut down on the monotony of the old system, and that it would enable stitchers to do different tasks, thus reducing repetitive-stress injuries.