The operating unit (10) for an electrical appliance, in particular a vehicle component such as a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning system, is provided with an operating element (16) which can be pressed down in a direction of actuation (28), and a support element (24) which is mechanically coupled to the operating element (16) and on which the operating element (16) is elastically supported so as to be movable in the direction of actuation (28). The operating element (10) further comprises a sensor (30) for detecting the motion of the operating element (16) when the latter is pressed down, and/or for detecting a force applied to the operating element (16), an actuator (36) for moving the support element (24) and the operating element (16) coupled thereto, and an evaluation and drive unit (34) connected to the sensor (30) and to the actuator (36) for driving the actuator (36) when the sensor (30) detects the motion of the operating element (16) as a result of the latter being pressed down, and/or a force applied to the operating element (16). The support element (24) can be moved by the actuator (36) in at least one direction of movement (38) transverse to the direction of actuation (28) of the operating element (16).