[feth
-er-bed-ing] 
| the practice of requiring an employer to hire unnecessary employees, to assign unnecessary work, or to limit production according to a union rule or safety statute: Featherbedding forced the railroads to employ firemen on diesel locomotives. |
[feth-er-bed] | to subject to or engage in featherbedding. |
| feath·er·bed (fěth'ər-běd') intr.v. feath·er·bed·ded, feath·er·bed·ding, feath·er·beds To engage in or promote featherbedding. adj. Relating to or promoting featherbedding: featherbed rules. |
| feath·er·bed·ding (fěth'ər-běd'ĭng) n. The practice of requiring an employer to hire more workers than are needed or to limit their production in keeping with a safety regulation or union rule. |
The practice of forcing an employer to hire more workers than are needed for a job.
Featherbedding
Term used to describe the practice of a labor union requiring an employer to hire more workers than necessary for a particular task.
Investopedia Commentary
Featherbedding has developed over time as unions respond to workers being laid off because of technological change. These lay-offs have caused unions to seek some way to retain workers, even though there may be little work for them to perform.
Related Links
Surveying The Employment Report
See also: Department of Labor, Downsize, Golden Boot, Restructuring