In the past job I had, I would see this all the time. I'd go in for doing a repair charging $150 + $100 an hour, free beer and food to take home. But the weird part is I would just walk into the kitchen shoot the shit with the owner, set up and then ask staff for help. And everyone was oddly compliant, I mean I would be extremely polite but it was awkward how after them seeing me talk with the owners that I got some sort of authority over people.