In my office right now I sit twenty feet from a 17 year girl.
She did in fact used to work for me, but at my request she's been moved next door. During her time in my office, she'd openly behave in an apalling way simply to try my patience. I've gone out of my way to be polite, professional and to make concessions and each time they've been spat back in my face. To list all the things she's done would take me far too long and would take even longer to explain why she is still an employee.
The only time she's ever on her best behaviour is when she's openly threatened with dismissal. Thankfully, the manager of the audit department has taken her under his wing, but is starting to experience the same problems as me.
By her own admission, she's been spoilt rotten and never taught how to behave at home. If she doesn't get what she wants, she spits out the dummy and stamps her feet in defiance.
This is the kind of chiled growing up today. I hate to say "when I was a kid" because I had a father who wasn't afraid to use bullying tactics on me, but for the most part we had respect for others.
Now the message is "do what you like kids, if you don't like it then no-one can do anything about it". Ordinarily I'd describe myself as a liberal-left wing type, but when it comes to matters of crime & punishment and delinqency I'm as right wing as it gets... Bring back the birch.