1. a mattress or bed filled with feathers

1. to provide with unnecessary employees or easy working conditions
Usage: business; labor relations

Examples

• The old featherbed was incredibly soft and warm.
• She sank into the luxurious featherbed after a long day.
• The union was accused of featherbedding the railroad industry.
• Management refused to featherbed the department with extra workers.
• The company eliminated featherbedding practices to reduce costs.
• Grandmother’s featherbed had been in the family for generations.