Jeff,
Without having your actual file to look at, the best I can do, based on your description, is to suggest that what you require is a "database" structure (within Excel is fine).
If you can enter the "points data" in this SAME file (as opposed to having to merge it), then this would be PREFERABLE. However, if the "points data" HAS to be maintained in a SEPARATE file, then it could be merged.
In entering the "points data" into the SAME file, you would do this on a sheet you will set up as a "database". You would have "field names" such as EMLOYEEE NAME, POINTS, and DATE ISSUED. You would basically enter the "points data" chronologically into the database - possibly much the same as you are currently doing in the separate file.
However, in this SAME file, you would have a SEPARATE sheet which would serve as a "summary" sheet. Excel is capable of extracting data from your "database sheet" to the "summary sheet", and provide a matrix of totals points, etc. by employee name, by month.
At this point, the above "generalization" is all that I can offer. If you would like "specific" help, and would be able to email a copy of your file(s), then I would be able to offer such specific help. Of course replace any sensitive data with "dummy" data if necessary.
Regards, ...Dale Watson dwatson@bsi.gov.mb.ca