The National Do Not Call List will expire on September 15. So, those five blissful, telemarketer-free years for people who signed up when the list first came out are about to end.

You can do your employees a big favor and let them know. The deadline’s September 15. They can call (888) 382-1222. Or, their dinners can be interrupted every evening from here until eternity.

There’s your HR Public Service Announcement for today. And I didn’t even have to phone it in. And as an extended public service, I’ll make it easy for you — here’s a sample letter you can send out.

September 11, 2007

To: All Employees

Subject: Don’t Let Telemarketers Ruin Your Dinner — Re-register for the National Do Not Call List by September 15

The National Do Not Call List first round will expire on September 15. If you signed up when the list first came out, you’ve enjoyed five years of relatively quiet dinners. That’s about to end.

The National Do Not Call List is good for only five years. You need to re-register if you want to eat in peace, or sleep in on the weekends. The telemarketers are drooling over the date. They’re hoping you forget. Don’t do it.

What You Need to Do

1. Register your land line phone number(s) with the National Do Not Call Registry on the web at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/dnccellphones.shtm or by calling (888) 382-1222.
2. If you register on the web you’ll get a confirmation e-mail. Make sure to click on the confirmation they send you within 72 hours or your registration isn’t valid.
3. Verify that your number was confirmed and that the new date is sometime in 2012 by looking here: https://www.donotcall.gov/confirm/Conf.aspx
4. Know that no matter what you heard, you don’t need to register your cell phone number. Telemarketers are prevented from calling cell phones.
5. Don’t think that because you’re already registered that you’re protected. You’re not. Do it again.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Call us. We like to talk to you. (We’re not so crazy about telemarketers.)

Signed,

Your friends in HR

Okay, try that. Or something like that. It’s often the little things that employees appreciate. This is a chance to do a little thing to keep the pests away.