What would you do? Employee's 'funny' e-mails get out of control

Periodically, we ask three HR managers how they’d handle a difficult situation at work. This employee’s a good performer, but addicted to joke e-mails.
The scenario:
“This is exactly what we’re talking about,” HR manager Michelle Mero pointed at her computer monitor. “Eleven e-mails just today from Jim Conners.”
Conners’ supervisor Carol Richards nodded in frustration: “I know what you mean, Michelle. I got them, too. Everyone in the company did.”
” It’s out of hand,” Michelle said while looking at the screen. “Look – here comes another one.” Michelle and Carol studied the latest e-mail. Subject line: “This is really funny!”
He’s been warned
“These so-called jokes Jim sends out are starting to drive everyone crazy,” Michelle said. “I mean, some of them are kind of funny, but I think everyone agrees we could live without them. And I don’t mean to be hard-nosed about this, but frankly they have no place in a business atmosphere.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Michelle,” Carol sighed. “I’ve talked to Jim about it four or five times.”
“And …” Michelle prodded.
“Jim says he always gets his work done on time and that people around here like getting the e-mails, that it keeps things ‘light,'” she explained.
“What he says about getting his work done is true, Michelle, but I can tell you I’ve taken a pretty hard line on this with Jim, and he still keeps sending the e-mails. It seems crazy to actually fire someone over something like this.”
“We have to do something,” Michelle said.
“I’m open to suggestions,” Carol replied.
If you were Michelle, what would you recommend to Carol?
Elaine Clark, program manager, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
What Elaine would do: If you’ve decided that you’d really rather not terminate him over the issue, you could have your IT head talk to him and explain that he’s causing a problem with your technical resources, as well as with other employees. The conversation could go something like:
“Imagine if every employee decided to do what you’re doing.”
Reason: He seems to think that what he’s doing is harmless, maybe even helpful to the company, when obviously it’s not. Giving him the IT manager’s side of the story might wake him up and convince him to stop.
John Latino, HR manager, Bellmawr, NJ
What John would do: It sounds as if he’s a somewhat valued, reliable employee, but you have to wonder about someone who doesn’t realize the problem he’s causing. With that in mind, I’d take a hard line: Stop sending non-business e-mails or face the consequences, including the possibility of termination.
Reason: He’s a distraction, and he’s using bad judgment. That’s two strikes against him. It seems you have to take some firm action on this.
Carol Nichols, HR manager, Indialantic, FL
What Carol would do: I’m not up on all the technical aspects of this, but maybe there’s a way you could suspend his e-mail for a while, as a way to discipline him and let him know that the problem is serious, or at least make the threat to do that. I suppose that’s something you’d have to talk to your IT manager about.
Reason: He needs to understand that what he’s doing isn’t acceptable, and other employees need to know that you’re doing something about it, too.