Operating unit for an electrical apparatus, the operating unit being provided with - a housing having a front wall, - an operating strip projecting beyond the front wall, the operating strip having an elongated operating surface with a plurality of operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) arranged side by side, - a support element for the operating strip, which is arranged in the housing, - wherein the operating strip is connected to the support element by means of connecting webs which protrude in the respective areas between the operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip, - wherein flexible webs, which protrude from the operating strip for each operating field and are connected to the support element, are arranged between the connecting webs, namely in an elastic manner and more flexible than the connections of the operating strip to the support element via the connecting webs, - wherein at least one operating field actuation sensor (70, 72) is arranged on the support element for each flexible web for the detection of a local bending of the operating strip, when a manual actuating force is exerted on an operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip, and - an evaluation and operating unit for receiving the signals of the operating field actuation sensors (70, 72) and for determining, on the basis of said signals, the operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) on which, upon manual actuation of the operating strip, a finger of one hand is applied, and for triggering an apparatus function that is associated with the respective operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) corresponding to the determined operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30). - a housing having a front wall, - an operating strip projecting beyond the front wall, the operating strip having an elongated operating surface with a plurality of operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) arranged side by side, - a support element for the operating strip, which is arranged in the housing, - wherein the operating strip is connected to the support element by means of connecting webs which protrude in the respective areas between the operating fields (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip, - wherein flexible webs, which protrude from the operating strip for each operating field and are connected to the support element, are arranged between the connecting webs, namely in an elastic manner and more flexible than the connections of the operating strip to the support element via the connecting webs, - wherein at least one operating field actuation sensor (70, 72) is arranged on the support element for each flexible web for the detection of a local bending of the operating strip, when a manual actuating force is exerted on an operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of the operating strip, and - an evaluation and operating unit for receiving the signals of the operating field actuation sensors (70, 72) and for determining, on the basis of said signals, the operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) on which, upon manual actuation of the operating strip, a finger of one hand is applied, and for triggering an apparatus function that is associated with the respective operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) corresponding to the determined operating field (22, 24, 26, 28, 30).