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1. The practice (usually by a labour union) of requiring an employer to hire more workers than are required

1. Treat with excessive indulgence
   "grandparents often featherbed the children"
   - pamper, cosset, cocker, baby, coddle, mollycoddle, spoil, indulge
    
2. Hire more workers than are necessary

Derived forms: featherbeddings

Type of: do by, employ, engage, handle, hire, pattern, practice, treat

Encyclopedia: Featherbed