Comment by kotaKat

From the further linked https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/when-employees-f... -

> "They found the perfect observational setting in the retail chain, which has a well-established policy that managers hand-deliver a card and small gift to each employee on their birthday. The company designed the policy to foster meaningful personal interactions and strengthen the employee-manager relationship"

> "The team found no issues when cards and gifts were given within a five-day window of the employee’s birthday"

Part of me wonders more now if the slight also comes from the expectation of receiving a gift under this policy? If someone told me "hey, happy birthday, dude" that'd be good enough for me.