Keep the message proportionate
Use the shortest explanation that still tells the truth about the event, impact, and current position. For a message about how to follow up on a return to work request, use this factual base: restate the role, conversation, submission, or promise and include the relevant date or reference.
Give timing that can be trusted
Give a realistic date, a simple option, or a direct yes-or-no question and avoid vague promises such as soon. Ask one answerable question, make any real deadline visible, and offer an easy way to close the loop. Make the immediate next step clear enough that the recipient can answer without reconstructing the entire history.
Close the loop without drama
Do not send daily reminders, manufacture competing offers, or contact unrelated employees for leverage. Use the official application or accessibility channel when the matter involves protected information or accommodation. A calm ending is more credible than a warning, a grand gesture, or language designed to provoke a response.