Thomas Mende, Klausner Trading USA’s International Business Development president, talks about the differences in wood measurements and sizing organization during a tour of Klausner's Live Oak sawmill in this file photo. 

In recent weeks Klausner Lumber One LLC’s employee numbers have been fluctuating, but head of Klausner’s U.S. branch Thomas Mende says it’s not due to layoffs.

“We’ve been weeding through our employees over the last couple of weeks,” said Mende, president of international business development for Klausner Trading USA. “When we first started hiring, we hired less than optimal employees. We were trying to get going as fast as possible and we lowered our hiring standards, unfortunately.”

Since opening, Mende said Klausner has hired over 300 people but none are operating on Klausner’s projected full schedule, which consists of four 88-member shifts working around the clock. The company is still on schedule to reach their anticipated full staff of 350 by the middle of 2016, Mende said.

“We are growing again and we are still hiring,” Mende said. “As a company, you want to keep people who you will want to work with longterm and who will want to stay with you.”

Klausner’s staffing agent, CareerSource North Florida, has received thousands of applications for the sawmill jobs. Klausner was working about 80 people in November 2014 and 110 in February 2015.

According to Klausner’s development agreement with the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners, the company expected to create 86 full-time jobs by January 2014, 150 by January 2015, and the full 350 by January 2016. County Administrator Randy Harris explained Klausner is not bound to create those positions, but a certain number of positions, along with other factors, is required in order for the company to qualify for county and state incentives such as tax rebates.