diff --git a/e2e/projects.spec.ts b/e2e/projects.spec.ts
index 20d41314..d4cab6c2 100644
--- a/e2e/projects.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/projects.spec.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
     archiveProjectViaApi,
     updateOrganizationSettingViaApi,
 } from './utils/api';
-import { clearTableState, getTableRowNames } from './utils/table';
+import { clearTableState, getSeededRowOrder } from './utils/table';
 
 async function goToProjectsOverview(page: Page) {
     await page.goto(PLAYWRIGHT_BASE_URL + '/projects');
@@ -654,14 +654,12 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
     page,
     ctx,
 }) => {
-    // The seeding below has to cross two second boundaries, which eats into the default
-    // per-test budget.
-    test.slow();
-
+    // Seeded a second apart: created_at only has second precision and same-second rows
+    // fall back to a random UUID order. The spacing makes the API order of the clientless
+    // rows (created_at desc: ZZZ, AAA) deterministic and different from the alphabetical
+    // order the name tie-break should produce.
     await createProjectViaApi(ctx, { name: 'AAA Tiebreak Project' });
     await page.waitForTimeout(1100);
-    await createProjectViaApi(ctx, { name: 'BBB Tiebreak Project' });
-    await page.waitForTimeout(1100);
     await createProjectViaApi(ctx, { name: 'ZZZ Tiebreak Project' });
 
     const clientAardvark = await createClientViaApi(ctx, { name: 'Aardvark Co' });
@@ -688,17 +686,11 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
 
     const seeded = [
         'AAA Tiebreak Project',
-        'BBB Tiebreak Project',
         'MMM Tiebreak Project',
         'NNN Tiebreak Project',
         'ZZZ Tiebreak Project',
     ];
-    const getOrder = async () => {
-        const rowNames = await getTableRowNames(table);
-        return rowNames
-            .map((rowName) => seeded.find((name) => rowName.includes(name)))
-            .filter((name): name is string => Boolean(name));
-    };
+    const getOrder = () => getSeededRowOrder(table, seeded);
 
     // -- Client: empty rows last in both directions, alphabetical among themselves --
     const clientHeader = table.locator('.select-none', { hasText: 'Client' }).first();
@@ -709,7 +701,6 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
             'MMM Tiebreak Project',
             'NNN Tiebreak Project',
             'AAA Tiebreak Project',
-            'BBB Tiebreak Project',
             'ZZZ Tiebreak Project',
         ]);
 
@@ -720,7 +711,6 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
             'NNN Tiebreak Project',
             'MMM Tiebreak Project',
             'AAA Tiebreak Project',
-            'BBB Tiebreak Project',
             'ZZZ Tiebreak Project',
         ]);
 
@@ -733,7 +723,6 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
             'NNN Tiebreak Project',
             'MMM Tiebreak Project',
             'AAA Tiebreak Project',
-            'BBB Tiebreak Project',
             'ZZZ Tiebreak Project',
         ]);
 
@@ -744,7 +733,6 @@ test('test that projects without a client or estimate are ordered by name at the
             'MMM Tiebreak Project',
             'NNN Tiebreak Project',
             'AAA Tiebreak Project',
-            'BBB Tiebreak Project',
             'ZZZ Tiebreak Project',
         ]);
 });
diff --git a/e2e/utils/table.ts b/e2e/utils/table.ts
index 6af1f8a9..4cb081df 100644
--- a/e2e/utils/table.ts
+++ b/e2e/utils/table.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@ export async function getTableRowNames(table: Locator): Promise<string[]> {
     return names;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The visual order of the given seeded names within the table, ignoring any other rows.
+ */
+export async function getSeededRowOrder(table: Locator, seeded: string[]): Promise<string[]> {
+    const rowNames = await getTableRowNames(table);
+    return rowNames
+        .map((rowName) => seeded.find((name) => rowName.includes(name)))
+        .filter((name): name is string => Boolean(name));
+}
+
 /**
  * Drop a table's persisted sort/filter state so a test starts from the defaults.
  */
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/Client/ClientTableHeading.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/Client/ClientTableHeading.vue
index 21eb7295..8ca19b17 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/Client/ClientTableHeading.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/Client/ClientTableHeading.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed } from 'vue';
 import TableHeading from '@/Components/Common/TableHeading.vue';
 import SortableTableHeaderCell from '@/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue';
 import type { SortColumn, SortDirection } from '@/Components/Common/Client/ClientTable.vue';
@@ -10,20 +9,9 @@ const props = defineProps<{
     descFirstColumns: ReadonlySet<SortColumn>;
 }>();
 
-const emit = defineEmits<{
+defineEmits<{
     sort: [column: SortColumn];
 }>();
-
-// Bound once per cell instead of repeating the three sort props on every column.
-const sortState = computed(() => ({
-    sortColumn: props.sortColumn,
-    sortDirection: props.sortDirection,
-    descFirstColumns: props.descFirstColumns,
-}));
-
-function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
-    emit('sort', column);
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -31,14 +19,17 @@ function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
         <SortableTableHeaderCell
             class="pr-3 pl-4 sm:pl-6 lg:pl-8 3xl:pl-12"
             column="name"
-            v-bind="sortState"
-            @sort="handleSort">
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Name
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="projects_count" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell
+            column="projects_count"
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Projects
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="status" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="status" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Status
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
         <div class="relative py-1.5 pl-3 pr-4 sm:pr-6 lg:pr-8 3xl:pr-12">
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/Member/MemberTableHeading.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/Member/MemberTableHeading.vue
index b5936d3a..8ec87b05 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/Member/MemberTableHeading.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/Member/MemberTableHeading.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed } from 'vue';
 import TableHeading from '@/Components/Common/TableHeading.vue';
 import SortableTableHeaderCell from '@/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue';
 import type { SortColumn, SortDirection } from '@/Components/Common/Member/MemberTable.vue';
@@ -10,20 +9,9 @@ const props = defineProps<{
     descFirstColumns: ReadonlySet<SortColumn>;
 }>();
 
-const emit = defineEmits<{
+defineEmits<{
     sort: [column: SortColumn];
 }>();
-
-// Bound once per cell instead of repeating the three sort props on every column.
-const sortState = computed(() => ({
-    sortColumn: props.sortColumn,
-    sortDirection: props.sortDirection,
-    descFirstColumns: props.descFirstColumns,
-}));
-
-function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
-    emit('sort', column);
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -31,20 +19,23 @@ function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
         <SortableTableHeaderCell
             class="pr-3 pl-4 sm:pl-6 lg:pl-8 3xl:pl-12"
             column="name"
-            v-bind="sortState"
-            @sort="handleSort">
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Name
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="email" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="email" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Email
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="role" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="role" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Role
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="billable_rate" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell
+            column="billable_rate"
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Billable Rate
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="status" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="status" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Status
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
         <div class="relative py-1.5 pl-3 pr-4 sm:pr-6 lg:pr-8 3xl:pr-12 bg-row-heading-background">
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/Project/ProjectTable.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/Project/ProjectTable.vue
index 97edd720..a3486aa1 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/Project/ProjectTable.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/Project/ProjectTable.vue
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ const columns = computed<SortableColumnDef<Project, SortColumn>[]>(() => [
     {
         id: 'billable_rate',
         sortDescFirst: true,
-        accessorFn: (row: Project) => row.billable_rate ?? 0,
+        accessorFn: (row: Project) => row.billable_rate,
     },
     {
         id: 'status',
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue
index 9b5238f6..9a52acdd 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts" generic="TColumn extends string">
 import { computed, useAttrs } from 'vue';
-import { twMerge } from 'tailwind-merge';
+import type { ClassValue } from 'clsx';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { ChevronUpIcon, ChevronDownIcon } from '@heroicons/vue/16/solid';
 import type { SortDirection } from '@/utils/useSortableTable';
 
@@ -29,24 +30,15 @@ const isChevronDown = computed(() => {
 });
 
 const cellClass = computed(() =>
-    twMerge(
+    cn(
         'px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-text-tertiary cursor-pointer hover:bg-secondary hover:text-text-primary transition-colors select-none flex items-center gap-1',
-        attrs.class as string | undefined
+        attrs.class as ClassValue
     )
 );
-
-const passthroughAttrs = computed(() => {
-    const { class: _class, ...rest } = attrs;
-    return rest;
-});
 </script>
 
 <template>
-    <button
-        v-bind="passthroughAttrs"
-        type="button"
-        :class="cellClass"
-        @click="emit('sort', column)">
+    <button type="button" :class="cellClass" @click="emit('sort', column)">
         <slot></slot>
         <span class="sr-only">
             {{
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/Tag/TagTableHeading.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/Tag/TagTableHeading.vue
index 264a3296..217b66b3 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/Tag/TagTableHeading.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/Tag/TagTableHeading.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed } from 'vue';
 import TableHeading from '@/Components/Common/TableHeading.vue';
 import SortableTableHeaderCell from '@/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue';
 import type { SortColumn, SortDirection } from '@/Components/Common/Tag/TagTable.vue';
@@ -10,20 +9,9 @@ const props = defineProps<{
     descFirstColumns: ReadonlySet<SortColumn>;
 }>();
 
-const emit = defineEmits<{
+defineEmits<{
     sort: [column: SortColumn];
 }>();
-
-// Bound once per cell instead of repeating the three sort props on every column.
-const sortState = computed(() => ({
-    sortColumn: props.sortColumn,
-    sortDirection: props.sortDirection,
-    descFirstColumns: props.descFirstColumns,
-}));
-
-function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
-    emit('sort', column);
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -31,8 +19,8 @@ function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
         <SortableTableHeaderCell
             class="pr-3 pl-4 sm:pl-6 lg:pl-8 3xl:pl-12"
             column="name"
-            v-bind="sortState"
-            @sort="handleSort">
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Name
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
         <div class="relative py-1.5 pl-3 pr-4 sm:pr-6 lg:pr-8 3xl:pr-12">
diff --git a/resources/js/Components/Common/Task/TaskTableHeading.vue b/resources/js/Components/Common/Task/TaskTableHeading.vue
index 2aac9f34..1f43cef0 100644
--- a/resources/js/Components/Common/Task/TaskTableHeading.vue
+++ b/resources/js/Components/Common/Task/TaskTableHeading.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed } from 'vue';
 import TableHeading from '@/Components/Common/TableHeading.vue';
 import SortableTableHeaderCell from '@/Components/Common/SortableTableHeaderCell.vue';
 import type { SortColumn, SortDirection } from '@/Components/Common/Task/TaskTable.vue';
@@ -10,20 +9,9 @@ const props = defineProps<{
     descFirstColumns: ReadonlySet<SortColumn>;
 }>();
 
-const emit = defineEmits<{
+defineEmits<{
     sort: [column: SortColumn];
 }>();
-
-// Bound once per cell instead of repeating the three sort props on every column.
-const sortState = computed(() => ({
-    sortColumn: props.sortColumn,
-    sortDirection: props.sortDirection,
-    descFirstColumns: props.descFirstColumns,
-}));
-
-function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
-    emit('sort', column);
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -31,14 +19,14 @@ function handleSort(column: SortColumn) {
         <SortableTableHeaderCell
             class="pr-3 pl-4 sm:pl-6 lg:pl-8 3xl:pl-12"
             column="name"
-            v-bind="sortState"
-            @sort="handleSort">
+            v-bind="props"
+            @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Task Name
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="spent_time" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="spent_time" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Total Time
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
-        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="progress" v-bind="sortState" @sort="handleSort">
+        <SortableTableHeaderCell column="progress" v-bind="props" @sort="$emit('sort', $event)">
             Progress
         </SortableTableHeaderCell>
         <div class="px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-text-tertiary">Status</div>
diff --git a/resources/js/utils/useSortableTable.ts b/resources/js/utils/useSortableTable.ts
index 3f0c77a7..d74d029d 100644
--- a/resources/js/utils/useSortableTable.ts
+++ b/resources/js/utils/useSortableTable.ts
@@ -13,26 +13,23 @@ import { computed, type ComputedRef } from 'vue';
 export type SortDirection = 'asc' | 'desc';
 
 /**
- * The comparator every sortable column gets: a row whose accessor returns `undefined`
- * sorts to the bottom in both directions, and two such rows compare as equal so the
- * tie-break decides their order.
- *
- * TanStack cannot express that combination. Its `sortUndefined: 'last'` keeps empty rows
- * at the bottom but returns a non-zero result even when both rows are empty, which
- * swallows the tie-break and leaves those rows in API (created_at) order; its default of
- * `1` returns zero for that case but flips empty rows to the top when descending.
+ * Comparator for every sortable column: empty values (`null`/`undefined`) sort last in
+ * both directions and compare as equal, so the tie-break orders them. TanStack's own
+ * `sortUndefined` cannot do this: `'last'` bypasses the tie-break and the default flips
+ * empty rows to the top when descending.
  */
-function sortEmptyLast<TData>(getDirection: () => SortDirection): SortingFn<TData> {
+function sortEmptyLast<TData>(getSorting: () => SortingState): SortingFn<TData> {
     return (rowA: Row<TData>, rowB: Row<TData>, columnId: string) => {
         const a = rowA.getValue(columnId);
         const b = rowB.getValue(columnId);
 
-        if (a === undefined && b === undefined) {
+        if (a == null && b == null) {
             return 0;
         }
-        if (a === undefined || b === undefined) {
-            const emptyLast = a === undefined ? 1 : -1;
-            return getDirection() === 'desc' ? -emptyLast : emptyLast;
+        if (a == null || b == null) {
+            const emptyLast = a == null ? 1 : -1;
+            const desc = getSorting().find((entry) => entry.id === columnId)?.desc ?? false;
+            return desc ? -emptyLast : emptyLast;
         }
         return typeof a === 'string' || typeof b === 'string'
             ? sortingFns.alphanumeric(rowA, rowB, columnId)
@@ -41,13 +38,13 @@ function sortEmptyLast<TData>(getDirection: () => SortDirection): SortingFn<TDat
 }
 
 /**
- * A column definition whose `id` has to be one of the table's sortable columns, so a
- * renamed or mistyped id is a compile error rather than a column that silently stops
- * sorting: TanStack drops sort entries for ids it cannot resolve, leaving the rows in
- * their original order with no chevron and no error.
+ * Requires `id` to be one of the table's sortable columns, so a mistyped id is a compile
+ * error instead of a column that silently stops sorting. `sortingFn` is forbidden
+ * because the composable always installs its own comparator.
  */
 export type SortableColumnDef<TData, TColumn extends string> = ColumnDef<TData, unknown> & {
     id: TColumn;
+    sortingFn?: never;
 };
 
 export function useSortableTable<TData, TColumn extends string>(options: {
@@ -72,15 +69,11 @@ export function useSortableTable<TData, TColumn extends string>(options: {
     ]);
 
     const resolvedColumns = computed<ColumnDef<TData, unknown>[]>(() =>
-        options.columns().map((column) =>
-            column.sortingFn
-                ? column
-                : {
-                      ...column,
-                      sortUndefined: false as const,
-                      sortingFn: sortEmptyLast<TData>(options.sortDirection),
-                  }
-        )
+        options.columns().map((column) => ({
+            ...column,
+            sortUndefined: false as const,
+            sortingFn: sortEmptyLast<TData>(() => sorting.value),
+        }))
     );
 
     const descFirstColumns = computed<ReadonlySet<TColumn>>(