TechnologyAugust 4, 2026
featherbedding
FEH-ther-bed-ing
Definition
The practice of requiring an employer to hire more employees than are necessary for a specific job, or to retain unnecessary staff, often forced by labor unions.
Etymology
Originating in the early 20th-century United States, the term implies that the work is made as soft and comfortable as a bed of feathers, suggesting the labor is easy, unnecessary, or unearned.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe labor regulations that might force companies to keep redundant staff, which the author argues would stifle economic growth and competitiveness against other nations.
Let competition regulate artificial intelligence
Read the full article ↗Washington Times