As so often, the answer is provided by former editor (and institutional memory) Wammes Bos. Former colleague Marieke de Wit once brought it in, though he’s not sure why. He can, however, shed light on its use: “We used to throw it at each other.”
That was several offices ago. The reasons behind this act of soft aggression have been lost in the mists of time, but it may well have been a way to relieve stress after meeting a tight deadline. At another editorial office where this author once worked, crumpled pieces of paper would fly through the air whenever the team managed to get the paper to press in the nick of time.
Or perhaps the stuffed toy was there to console those who failed to meet their deadlines – who knows? There are no tear stains on the immaculate little rabbit. Anyone in need of a soft pick-me-up, or looking for a cuddly stress reliever to toss at colleagues, is welcome to come and collect it.