Legal Definitions - free rider

Free rider is a term used to describe people or entities that benefit from the actions of others without contributing anything in return. This concept is often seen in law and politics.

• In labor law, non-union employees who do not pay union dues or agency shop fees but still receive benefits earned by the union are considered free riders.
• Another example is when a provision is added to a contract or piece of legislation that would not receive support on its own, but is included as a "rider" to a larger deal.

These examples illustrate how free riders benefit from the actions of others without contributing anything in return. In the case of non-union employees, they receive the benefits of union negotiations and protections without paying for them. In the case of a rider, it is added to a larger deal to gain support, even though it may not have enough support on its own.