A handheld unit and an associated network and method are provided for tracking the worksite information for a plurality of workers assigned to various worksites and electronically distributing payroll to those workers that opt to participate in a stored value card program. In order to track the worksite information for each worker, a foreman uses a handheld unit to collect worker identification, time, pay scale, work assignment, and work volume information for subsequent transfer to a central processing server capable of accumulating the worksite information from a plurality of re-deployable handheld units. Preferably, the handheld unit is a personal digital assistant (PDA) type device that communicates via a cellular network. In an embodiment, the central processing server accumulates the worksite information in a database for subsequent reporting and analysis and forwards the pay information to a payroll processing server for payroll distribution via an optionally issued stored value card.