No timeline for restoration of operations at Boston Scientific after cyberattack

Boston Scientific's Cork site, located on Model Farm Rd, employs an estimated 1,200 people and has operated since 1997. Picture: Larry Cummins

US multinational Boston Scientific, which employs more than 7,000 people in Ireland, does not yet have a timeline for a restoration of operations after disruption caused by a cyberattack.

The €62bn medical device maker confirmed this week that it had suffered an attack which has disrupted its global operations.

The cyberattack was detected on Tuesday and continues to affect parts of the company’s business, among them information systems used to process and ship customer orders.

In an update posted to its website, the company said its investigation into the cyberattack was ongoing.

“While we are working diligently to restore affected functions and systems access, the timeline for a full restoration is not yet known.” 

Employees across the biotechnology and biomedical multinational’s three Irish plants in Cork, Clonmel, and Galway have expressed frustration at what they say is a lack of communication from management.

Boston Scientific’s Irish plants are unionised, but despite a 2016 Labour Court recommendation, the company does not recognise unions.

One employee noted that the company’s online update, which ran to 780 words, did not contain a single mention of work arrangements.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said employees had received less than 12 hours’ notice of cancelled shifts and were in the dark about day-to-day working plans.

“What is particularly frustrating is that supervisors and shop stewards across the Irish plants are the people employees naturally turn to for answers, but they don’t necessarily have those answers, because the information isn’t reaching them clearly from the top,” they said. 

“Boston Scientific has told investors that the investigation is continuing and that the eventual impact is still being assessed.

“What employees are asking is why that same openness and clarity does not appear to be reaching the workforce in a way that gives them confidence about their immediate working arrangements.” 

The company's Cork site, located on Model Farm Rd, employs an estimated 1,200 people and has operated since 1997.

Boston Scientific was asked for comment.