[Jotmo]

I think you are wrong. This is a clear case of infringing on the rights of employees to pursue legal activities in their time away from work. The employer can control what happens in the work place and could probably make a case for setting this as a condition of employment but to institute the practice with existing employees and then terminate their livelyhood is despicable.

For whatever reason what if an employer decided everyone had to run a marathon, excercise ten hours a week and become a vegetarian in order to continue employment?

I agree completely. This is the most important point in this discussion, and it seems to be lost on this thread.

The policy that existed when they were hired (regarding off time behavior)is the one they should be judged by. Changing the rules afterword and then firing them is despicable indeed. Disgusting behavior, despite whatever "family friendly, traditional values" culture they claim exists there.