I kept my birthday concealed from my company’s management for a number of years because all that I simply wanted to do was go have a nice quiet lunch and a beer at the nearby Montana’s and not be bothered with a celebration and cake (which I likely would not be able to eat due to my dairy allergy).
I recall reading on an earlier discussion of this story someone’s comment that this sort of thing is so typical when a busybody HR type (usually a woman) gets involved with this sort of stuff and that they often absolutely have to have these parties, etc which can really be that sort of a bother after a while. I know that would have someone like the late Paul Lynde snapping at me “You’re no fun”, lol.