"Featherbedding" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Featherbedding" Meaning

Featherbedding refers to the practice of hiring more workers than are needed to perform a particular task or job, often to provide more jobs or to please labor unions or other groups. This practice was originally used in the railroads, where "featherbedding" referred to the inclusion of extra staff, such as cooks and stewards, on trains, even when there were no passengers to serve. Over time, the term came to be used more broadly to describe any situation where extra workers are hired, often at a greater cost than necessary. Featherbedding is often considered to be a waste of resources, and can be seen as a form of inefficiency or even corruption.

"Featherbedding" Examples

Usage Examples of "Featherbedding"

1. The workers at the factory were resistant to the company's proposal to reduce staff, feeling that the company was engaging in unnecessary featherbedding.

2. The labor union argued that the company's decision to hire more managers was an example of featherbedding, as it did not improve productivity.

3. Critics accused the government of featherbedding by hiring redundant civil servants to maintain their power structure.

4. Despite the economic downturn, some companies continued to engage in featherbedding, which only added to their financial woes.

5. The CEO faced criticism for featherbedding at the corporation, even though the company was experiencing financial difficulties and needed to cut costs.