Manitowoc Cranes is laying off close to 300 works in what the company calls a temporary adjustment to its build schedule because of soft demand, according to several online news reports. Company officials have said the layoffs are temporary.

Employees said they were notified by the company that they would be laid off for six weeks and would be recalled by the end of October. Manitowoc said in a statement that the company has more employees worldwide now than it had nine months ago, increasing from 12,000 to 12,500.

Manitowoc Cranes is based in Manitowoc, Wis.