whitemail can also be considered as legally compensating someone for doing their job in a manner benefiting the payer. for example, if a person gives a maître d' a $20 bill in order to secure a table more quickly than other patrons who had arrived earlier, this could be considered whitemail. it is merely a compensatory incentive for someone to do their job quicker, better, or in a manner more advantageous to the payer. it can be considered a bribe, depending on the person being offered the incentive and the action the incentive is intended to influence.