Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun featherbedding

1 sense of featherbedding

Sense 1
featherbedding -- (the practice (usually by a labor union) of requiring an employer to hire more workers than are required)
       => practice, pattern -- (a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb featherbed

2 senses of featherbed

Sense 1
pamper, featherbed, cosset, cocker, baby, coddle, mollycoddle, spoil, indulge -- (treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!")
       => treat, handle, do by -- (interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently")

Sense 2
featherbed -- (hire more workers than are necessary)
       => hire, engage, employ -- (engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?")