Q: On job interviews, I get asked if I plan to have more kids. I think this is private. Do I have to answer?

A: Potential employers are certainly permitted to ask questions that relate to your ability to perform the job, but federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, national origin, religion, disability, pregnancy and, in some states, sexual orientation—which are described as “protected characteristics.” It’s illegal for an employer to ask before you’re hired if you have children, plan to have children or have made child-care arrangements.

You have the right to file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if you think you’ve been discriminated against during an interview. Contact the EEOC right after you suspect discrimination. Generally, a charge must be filed within 180 days of the alleged violation.

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Gloria Allred is a founding partner of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, a leading plaintiff civil law firm, and a spokesperson for Lawyers.com, a legal website for consumers. More about Gloria.