What I'm trying to do is set up a system that allows me to carry over
information from a group of cells in one sheet to a corresponding group of
cells in the next sheet, so that in payroll, I can keep track of employees'
cumulative hours without printing out each worksheet and manually re-typing
and adding.

Sarah helped by explaining how to use the formula =sheetname!cell.

So, here's how I think I can do it, but PLEASE tell me if there's a simpler
way.

I might keep a worksheet with the employees' names, and column headings, and
formulas that would import data from another worksheet, and keep that saved
in another workbook. Then let's say, in my payroll workbook, I have 5
worksheets, one for each of the last 5 pay periods. For pay period #6, I
would copy the blank worksheet and insert it as worksheet #6 and enter the
hours. But then when I have to change the sheet name in all the formulas
every time.

Is that crazy? I have limited experience with Excel, so any advice is
greatly appreciated!

Mel